DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on 13 May 2009
A new taskforce of
health professionals working together to spot early signs of
violence and abuse against women and girls, investigate the scale
of the problem and ensure victims across the NHS get the support
they need was announced today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and
Health Secretary Alan Johnson.
The taskforce has been set up in response to issues raised during
the Violence against Women and Girls consultation which began in
March. The Government recognises that victims may talk more freely
with health professionals about their fear of violence - even when
they are not ready to take the next step to reporting the crime.
The Government wants to make sure that health professionals are
prepared to give victims of violence and abuse information about
local support services. The taskforce will also look at helping
health workers to identify women at risk earlier and how they can
offer these women support to reduce repeat victimisation.
Professor Sir George Alberti, former National Clinical Director
for Emergency Access and Service Design, will lead the work of the
taskforce. The taskforce will comprise health professionals, NHS
managers and representatives from the public, social services and
voluntary sector.
Alongside this, the Government also pledged to double funding for
the 24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline, bringing total
support to £1 million for this year.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"Violence against women and girls is completely unacceptable
and we must all see it as our duty to step in and help someone who
is at risk. This is not limited to friends and family; as we said
in our consultation document, we need a wide range of workers on
the frontline to be alert to the signs of violence against women
and girls and able to provide support.
"I want to make sure that vulnerable women or victims who
access healthcare can also get help and advice about protecting
themselves as well as information about local support services.
"That is why we need this new taskforce - violence against
women and girls is a public health issue affecting the lives of
thousands of NHS patients every year and we need to do all we can
together to prevent violence from occurring."
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"Almost one in three women will experience domestic violence
at some point during their lives and nearly one in four will
experience some form of sexual assault. This taskforce will bring
together health professionals and women's organisations to
help tackle violence against women and girls by responding to its
early signs and supporting its victims.
"Many women who have suffered violence and abuse turn to GPs
and A&E for support and treatment - the taskforce will help us
to ensure that all NHS staff are trained to care for women and
girls and help prevent further abuse.
"We are also continuing to support the National Domestic
Violence helpline for women so they can safely get the help they
need at any time."
Professor George Alberti said:
"Violence and abuse against women and girls is an enormously
important and rather a neglected area. I am delighted to have been
invited to lead this taskforce to help better support victims and
protect them from further harm.
"The taskforce will bring together people with a range of
different skills and experience to help tackle violence and abuse
against women and girls. We will also ensure that the voices and
experiences of victims themselves are properly represented."
Notes to Editors
1. The largest ever cross-Government public consultation to
tackle violence against women and girls was launched in March.
"Together we can end Violence against Women" sets out
action Government has taken to tackle all forms of violence and
looks at what more can be done to challenge the attitudes that may
uphold it in order to help women and girls feel safer. To view the
consultation, go to http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/keepwomensafe.
2. The 24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline is delivered
jointly by the charities Refuge and Women's Aid. It is part
funded by an annual Home Office grant of £500,000 which has this
year been matched in a one-off payment from the Department of Health.
3. Terms of reference for the new taskforce are as follows:
Taskforce Summary
To identify the role and the response of health services in
preventing, identifying and supporting women and girls who are
victims of violence and abuse, and to make recommendations on what
more could be done to meet their needs.
The taskforce will work to:
* estimate the prevalence and cost to the NHS of all forms
violence against women and girls;
* review the evidence on the health care needs of women and girls
who are or have been victims of violence or abuse, and to assess
the extent to which their needs are currently met by the NHS;
* review the role of NHS in local strategies for reducing
violence against women and girls - including participation in
Multi Agency Risk Assessment Centres, Crime and Disorder Reduction
Partnerships, children's trusts arrangements; and the
potential for improving data sharing with other local agencies; and
* establish the case for earlier interventions to prevent
violence against women and girls and beneficial impacts on health
and other public services.
And we expect the taskforce to make recommendations on:
* improving the early identification of women and girls who are
victims of violence and abuse;
* improving the quality of, and access to, services for women and
girls who are victims of violence or abuse;
* raising the profile of violence against women and girls amongst
NHS frontline staff and commissioners as well as their partner agencies;
* staff training and development; and
* embedding improvements in the NHS by making the most effective
use of existing NHS resources.
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