BBC News is looking for willing participants to take part in a story about secondary trauma/secondary victimisation.

'Second victim' is a term referring to the effects of an unanticipated patient event, a medical error or patient related injury on staff who have been involved. We now recognise how this is manifested in staff. Symptoms such as anxiety, anger, guilt, fear, depression can last weeks, months or years and result in time away from work.


The story will not be of criticism of people who have experienced it but to bring awareness of the impact that this can have on our NHS workers. It will include a psychologist perspective which recognises that this is an increasing problem, partly down to the increasing pressure on services.

Jenny Walrond, Health Correspondent at the BBC is looking for someone who would be comfortable being interviewed on camera who has experienced secondary trauma and is prepared to talk about it publicly. The interview will be pre-recorded, with the intention of using short clips from it to support the report.

Interested in taking part?

It is understood that this is not an easy thing to share, if you would like to find out more and whether you would be right for this story please contact:

Jenny Walrond

BBC News Health Correspondent

Mobile - 07912 583522

EMAHSNs Patient Safety Collaborative funded a team of academic and clinical psychologists at the University of Leicester and Cardiff University to develop a victim support unit in the Children's Hospital, Leicester. The response from staff has been very positive, helping them feel supported and remain at work. A copy of the report is available here.