Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 January 2026
21 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Rape and Sexual Assault in Hospitals (Protection)
Health and Social Care
Rape and sexual assault occurring in our hospitals—or anywhere else in our society—is unacceptable. I expect all health boards to uphold their legal duties as employers to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. Everyone has the right to access healthcare or their workplace without fear of assault. The safety of patients and staff remains our absolute priority. That is why a national network has been created to bring together health boards and partner organisations to explore and share approaches to preventing sexual harassment across the national heath service in Scotland. That includes reviewing approaches to data, reporting and training, sharing resources and best practice, and providing support for staff and employers.
In the same item of business
7. Tess White (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect women from rape and sexual assault in hospitals. (S6O-05401)
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care (Neil Gray)
SNP
Rape and sexual assault occurring in our hospitals—or anywhere else in our society—is unacceptable. I expect all health boards to uphold their legal duties a...
Tess White
Con
That is welcome. However, last year, the Women’s Rights Network exposed the facts that there have been 276 sexual assaults and 12 rapes in Scottish hospitals...
Neil Gray
SNP
There are several elements in Ms White’s question. I have met Karen Titchener, the Patient Safety Commissioner, to discuss the issue with her. As I sought to...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We are over the time limit, but, before we move to question 8, I am minded to take a couple of supplementaries to question 7 as long as they are brief.
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
Research carried out for the Women’s Rights Network’s report found that assaults in hospitals were not routinely recorded and that 133 hospitals did not hold...
Neil Gray
SNP
I have not met the Women’s Rights Network. The report has been debated in the Parliament, Ms Minto met cross-party MSPs in May, and the chief people officer ...
Ash Regan (Edinburgh Eastern) (Ind)
Ind
The human rights of women and girls in Scotland are not complex. Sex-based risk is real. Women and girls have unique vulnerabilities to sexual violence, incl...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
A question, please.
Ash Regan
Ind
That vulnerability also applies to female patients in mixed-sex hospitals—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Let us hear a question.
Ash Regan
Ind
How many rapes of women and girls in Scottish hospitals are acceptable to the Government?
Neil Gray
SNP
None is acceptable to the Government. I have set out the steps that it is taking to provide protections for staff and patients who are accessing or deliverin...