England hospitals under-reporting sexual misconduct, say experts

Exclusive: Guardian/BMJ investigation finds 35,600 incidents of violence and harassment, but researchers say 100,000 more are missing

More than 100,000 incidents of sexual violence and misconduct in NHS hospitals in England are not being recorded and investigated every year, experts have warned.

An investigation by the Guardian and the British Medical Journal found more than 35,606 sexual safety incidents" were recorded by NHS hospitals in England over the past five years. The term covers a spectrum of allegations, from abusive remarks to rape, allegedly perpetrated by staff, patients and visitors.