When Charlotte Buttercase’s phone rang at 2am, the final-year medical student at the University of Manchester answered because she believed there could be an emergency. The call came from an unidentified number, but instead of urgent news, she heard a man making intimidating and sexually suggestive remarks while others laughed in the background.
Buttercase told the caller the behaviour amounted to sexual harassment before ending the conversation. But the incident followed her into the next day, when she arrived at the hospital where she was training and attempted to continue as normal.
“I tried to put on a brave face,” she said. Yet she described feeling constantly alert, concerned that the people responsible could be among the trainee doctors she worked alongside. “I felt like my back was incredibly exposed,” she said.
The 24-year-old decided to speak publicly within her year group, posting a message on the medical students’ WhatsApp chat. Referencing French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot’s statement that “shame must change sides”, she asked whether anyone else had experienced similar behaviour.
The response was immediate. By the end of the day, Buttercase had received more than 70 replies, including 15 women who said they had also received late-night calls. She said at least 30 Manchester medical students have since told her they experienced sexual harassment or assault during their studies.
The anonymous calls on 16 April 2026 appeared to be part of a coordinated series of incidents. Buttercase said eight other women received calls that same night, with 16 calls placed across 22 minutes. Some individuals received multiple calls, and Buttercase said she was approximately the fifth person contacted.
Other students have described experiences involving physical harm and sexual assault, with some cases now being investigated by police. Buttercase said the reports included alleged stalking, threatening behaviour, intimidation and harassment.
“Women don’t know where to turn and they feel that there’s a precedent of this kind of behaviour being allowed,” she said. She argued that concerns about the future careers of those accused had sometimes received greater consideration than the experiences of those reporting harm.
The allegations have prompted wider calls for action at the university. More than 1,000 people have signed an open letter to Manchester University vice-chancellor Duncan Ivison, describing what they called a “pervasive culture of sexual harassment”.
Buttercase said she believed sexual misconduct was a serious issue within medical education, describing a culture in which some students may view themselves as being beyond ordinary rules because of their future professional status.
She said she was particularly concerned about the possibility that those involved in alleged misconduct could eventually become qualified doctors working with vulnerable patients. She raised concerns that individuals accused of sexually harassing colleagues could enter medical roles, including areas such as obstetrics and gynaecology, where doctors care for patients during highly sensitive moments.
Manchester University has launched an investigation into the allegations and said action would be taken against anyone found responsible for misconduct. Prof Ashley Blom, vice-president and dean of the faculty of biology, medicine and health, said the issues raised were “deeply concerning” and would be treated with the “utmost seriousness”.
The concerns at Manchester come amid wider evidence of sexual harassment and assault within medical education and healthcare. A recent survey by the Office for Students found that 40% of medical students had experienced sexual harassment and 23% had experienced sexual assault. Across the wider student population, the figures were lower, with more than 24% reporting harassment and 14% reporting assault.
The General Medical Council (GMC), the independent regulator for doctors, has written to all UK medical schools reminding them of their responsibilities to protect trainee doctors. The letter from Prof Pushpinder Mangat, the GMC’s medical director, stated that students should understand that reporting sexual misconduct, harassment, abuse or other concerns would not raise questions about their fitness to practise.
The GMC said behaviours including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and discrimination were incompatible with the standards expected of future doctors.
However, concerns remain about whether existing systems provide enough protection. Only 11 of the UK’s 52 medical schools have signed the NHS sexual safety in healthcare charter. A survey by the British Medical Association and campaign group Surviving in Scrubs found that many medical students lacked confidence that reports of sexual misconduct would be handled properly.
The survey found that victims did not report alleged offences in 67% of cases, while 60% said they lacked confidence in their school’s ability to respond to future incidents. A further 84% said they believed sexism was a problem within medical education.
Prof Carrie Newlands, a consultant surgeon and co-leader of the independent working party on sexual misconduct in surgery, said medical students were especially vulnerable because their training depends heavily on senior colleagues.
“Individuals who are most dependent on senior colleagues for training and progression are more likely to be targeted and often feel least able to speak up,” she said.
Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, called for an independent anonymous reporting system covering NHS staff and medical trainees. He said medical students needed training environments free from sexual misconduct and should not be left between the responsibilities of universities and NHS organisations.
The issue extends beyond medical schools. A 2023 survey commissioned by the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery found that two-thirds of women working in surgery had experienced sexual harassment from a colleague, while nearly a third reported sexual assault by a colleague. The survey also recorded 11 instances of rape.
As Manchester University investigates the allegations raised by students, concerns over accountability and safety continue to shape discussions about the environment in which future doctors are trained.
