A REVIEW that found reports of misogyny and aggression at Basildon Hospital has resulted in resident doctors being moved on from their placements.
The reports came from employees who said they had to endure “sexually inappropriate” comments from male consultants working in the hospital’s anaesthetics department.
NHS England carried out an education quality review at the hospital during may and June, during which period the reports surfaced.
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In response to the claims, bosses at the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said they will always take action to address poor behaviour.
Christine Blanshard, the chief medical officer for the trust, said: “We took immediate action as soon as concerns were raised by resident doctors.
“All staff deserve to work in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment, and we always take action to address any poor behaviours.”
The review found that female residents were subjected to comments about their appearance, with one consultant found to have asked a member of theatre staff on holiday and said they would have sex with them.
"Residents perceived a permissive attitude and culture that did not challenge inappropriate behaviours,” the review states.
Trainee anaesthetics residents were also found to have often been left alone in theatre without supervision, and the report concluded by stating some doctors had been relocated to other sites as a result of the investigation.
Basildon is one of three under the management of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, alongside Southend Hospital and Broomfield Hospital.
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A spokesperson for the General Medical Council, an independent regulator of medical professionals, said its priority was ensuring all doctors receive high-quality training in safe environments.
“We placed the trust into our enhanced monitoring process following serious concerns about the quality of training in the anaesthetics department,” the spokesperson said.
“Our priority is to make sure doctors in training receive high standards of training, and do so in an environment that is inclusive, supportive and fair.
“This is imperative to both the well-being of doctors in training and the safety of patients.”
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