More than 35,000 incidents of sexual misconduct or sexual violence were recorded in the NHS in England between 2017 and 2022, research suggests.
The new data, which includes rapes, sexual assaults, being touched without consent, stalking and abuse, was collected under freedom of information laws.
Most of the 35,606 incidents (58%) involved patients abusing staff. At least a fifth were rape, sexual assault or inappropriate physical contact, including unwanted kissing.
