£3.2 million to
improve access to support for sexual assault
Each week 1,000 women are subjected to rape or attempted rape.
One in four women have been affected by domestic violence.
To help tackle the problem, Public Health Minister Anne Milton
has launched an action plan to improve services for women and
child victims of violence and announced up to £3.2 million to
improve and expand Sexual Assault Referral Centres.
Anne Milton said:
"Violence against women and children is unacceptable. It
leads to poor mental health, unwanted pregnancies,
sexually-transmitted infections and substance misuse. The effects
can last a lifetime and have a profound impact on the victims, and
also their family and friends. The after effects of violence can
carry on for many years.
"For many victims, doctors and nurses are the first or
only person they can turn to. It's critical that health
professionals have the skills to identify victims of violence and
offer appropriate support.
"I've seen excellent work in specialist
centres, so we're making more money available to improve
and expand them. Women and children can then be referred to the
right services. For some, there may be only one chance to save a life."
The Minister launched the Department of Health's action
plan, which responds to the work of the Taskforce on Violence
Against Women and Children, at a visit to NHS Barking and
Dagenham. She also went to a refuge, where she met staff and spoke
to victims of violence about their experience of the service.
The Taskforce identified how the NHS response can be improved.
The action plan includes:
* How local areas can improve communications activity to raise
awareness with the public, patients and staff.
* Workforce,
education and training, including working with the Royal Colleges
and other organisations to see where training needs to be improved
or expanded.
* Improving the quality of services, such as
providing joint funding with the Home Office in 2010/11 of up to
£3.2 million to improve quality of and access to Sexual Assault
Referral Centres.
* Strengthening evidence and information,
including looking at how emergency departments can share
non-confidential information relating to violent assaults.
Melanie Walker, Chair of the NHS Implementation Group on Violence
Against Women and Children, said:
"Violence and abuse against women and children is such a
big issue in the NHS that we must ensure that we commission
appropriate services for our patients. Voluntary sector specialist
services provide valuable support and it's important to
recognise their contribution.
"To make sure there are specialist skills to meet the
needs of patients, particularly those who have experienced sexual
assault, improvements are being made in forensic medical care. I
am pleased to announce the first five doctors to undertake the new
Diploma in Forensic and Clinical Aspects of Sexual Violence have
now successfully completed their examination."
Professor Liz Kelly, Chair of the of the End Violence Against
Women Coalition said:
"Sexual and other violence against women and girls is a
human rights abuse that has serious consequences for individuals
as well as the community more broadly. We warmly welcome work to
ensure that health and other professionals respond better to this issue.
"But we know that most victims first disclose abuse to a
friend, family member or someone else in the community and often
wish to talk first to services where they can talk in confidence
and explore their options. So it is also imperative that there is
funding for specialist women's services such as Rape
Crisis Centres for the many victims who want this kind of support."
Violence and abuse against women and children is a pan government
challenge. The Home Secretary, Theresa May, made a
cross-Government statement on Violence Against Women and Girls
today. She called on families, communities, charities, local
authorities, the police and the NHS to work together to stop
senseless crimes against women and girls.
Notes to editors
1. The DH Action Plan, 'Improving service for women and
child victims of violence' is available here: www.dh.gov.uk/vawc
2. A communications campaign for VAWC has also launched
today. Campaign materials are available at www.dh.gov.uk/vawc
3. The Home Secretary's cross-Government statement
is available here: www.homeoffice.gov.uk
4. The Diploma in Forensic and Clinical Aspects of Sexual
Violence has been funded by the Department of Health and is
administered by the Society of Apothecaries.
5. More than
1,000 women are raped every week (British Crime Survey, 2009/10).
Around one-fifth are committed against children under 16.
6.
One in four women have been affected by domestic violence (British
Crime Survey, 2009/10).
7. In 2009/10, more than one in four
women in England and Wales (4.4 million) had been affected by
domestic violence since the age of 16.
8. Every two minutes an
incidence of domestic violence is reported to the police.
9.
Over 100 women are killed every year by current or former male
partners.
10. Case studies are available from the DH news
desk, 020 7210 5221. You can see Victoria's story at www.nhs.uk/sexualassault
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk