Senior Consultant's Criminal Acts Turn Spotlight on Hospital Workplaces
A senior consultant once trusted with patient care at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is now a convicted sex offender. Dr. Amal Bose, age 55, used his position between 2017 and 2022 to harass and assault five different female staff members. The trial uncovered a workplace climate thick with intimidation, inappropriate behavior, and a never-ending sense of risk for potential victims. While the medical world still reels, staff are coming to terms with how someone so embedded in hospital life could fly under the radar for so long.
The details from the courtroom weren’t pretty. Victims described being groped, touched, and cornered, with Bose making sexual jokes and explicit comments—even referring to his assault as 'banter' or 'flirting.' The jury didn’t buy his defense for a second. The conviction on 12 separate counts makes it clear: these weren’t misunderstood office antics or blurred social lines. Staff were so uncomfortable that some began rearranging their work routines, adjusting shifts, or even trying to avoid certain departments altogether just to steer clear of Bose.
Widespread Problem: Sexual Harassment in Healthcare
Bose's case isn’t happening in a vacuum. Reports from NHS workers and medical unions keep exposing a stark truth: hospitals, meant to be places of healing, sometimes foster environments where inappropriate behavior goes unchecked. Staff at Blackpool Victoria described a toxic workplace culture under Bose, but similar stories have popped up across UK hospitals in recent years. Victims in these cases are often younger staffers—nurses, junior doctors, trainees—who fear career damage if they speak up.
Senior doctors and consultants hold enormous sway in hospital hierarchies. When someone at the top starts crossing boundaries, it's easy for victims to feel isolated or afraid reporting misconduct. While some hospitals have started rolling out anonymous tip lines and support teams, there’s a long road ahead to make medical workplaces genuinely safe. After all, for years, Bose’s behavior went on unchallenged. It took the bravery of five staff members to finally bring his actions into the light.
Bose is now out on bail, waiting to be sentenced in September. For staff at Blackpool Victoria and other hospitals, the message is clear: the culture must change. Expect plenty more tough conversations—and, maybe, a long-overdue shift in what hospital leaders tolerate from their own ranks.