Invitation to Tender: Bullying, Harassment, and Abuse

NHS Staff survey data shows that bullying, harassment, and abuse towards and amongst NHS staff continues to be rampant. This has negative consequences for patient safety, reduces morale, increases sickness and staff absences and drives dedicated staff out of the NHS. Research has also shown that higher levels of bullying were linked to psychological distress and reduced job satisfaction. West et al (2011) found that “when staff report bullying, harassment or abuse from patients’ relatives, friends, carers, and other members of the public, patients do not feel treated with respect and dignity while in hospital”.

On top of negative impact on patients and staff, bullying and harassment has  significant financial repercussions for the NHS.

There are significant differences in the levels of bullying, harassment, and abuse experienced by different ethnic groups in the NHS.

This invitation to tender calls for a mixed-methods research to explore bullying harassment and abuse from an ethnicity perspective. The research will develop actionable insights, recommendations, and resources to help organisations reduce overall levels of bullying harassment and abuse, as well as close the gap between different ethnic groups.

More information can be found in the Invitation to Tender PDF document available here.

We welcome submissions from all interested organisations.  Tender submissions should be made by Monday, June 30 2025.