This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Guidance for domestic abuse survivors in NHS
28/06/2002
New guidance to strengthen prevention, protection and
provision for domestic
abuse survivors in the NHS in Scotland was launched
for consultation today.
The guidelines - Responding to Domestic Abuse in
NHSScotland - have three
main objectives:
* to actively prevent domestic abuse;
* to ensure appropriate legal protection for anyone who
has experienced
domestic abuse; and
* to offer the right health care, advice and support
when it is needed.
Launching the consultation, Health Minister Malcolm
Chisholm said:
"Making Scotland a safer, fairer, more just society is
at the heart of
everything we do in the Executive.
"Tackling violence and in particular violence in
families is a central plank
of our programme and in my capacity as Minister for
Health I want to make
sure that the NHS is at the forefront of improving
the well-being of women,
children and all survivors of violence."
The draft guidance sets out what we know about the
extent and the impact of
domestic abuse and gives a clear outline of actions
which are required from
NHS Boards. It will also provide practical guidance
for health care workers
who suspect their patient has experienced domestic
abuse as well as
describing the support staff should expect from their
employers to help
them deal with the problem.
Mr Chisholm said:
"It is essential that all health professionals are well
equipped to
recognise potential indicators of domestic abuse,
broach the subject gently
and confidently in a supportive, non-judgemental way
and work with the
woman in how her needs for health care and support
are properly met. The
long-term effects require considered and sensitive
long-term care responses
which must be directly related to an individual's
assessed needs, both
physical and psychological.
"The guidelines should heighten awareness of these
issues and problems and
point to ways of tackling them."
The guidelines set out key requirements for effective
support and
intervention by:
* provision of a safe and confidential environment;
* awareness of the prevalence, nature and impact of
domestic abuse;
* skills in identification;
* safety planning, information giving and signposting
to other sources of
support;
* meticulous and accurate documentation of injuries
and recording of
contact, discussion and intervention;
* the right medical care and access to therapeutic
intervention; and
* ensuring long term support where there is need.
The Minister also emphasised the responsibility of NHS
boards and trusts and
the importance of inter-agency working:
"Domestic abuse is a major public health issue and
consequently a key issue
for the health service to address. NHS boards and
trusts must ensure that
is recognised as such in their planning, their
service provision and their
staff development work. But health cannot do it
alone.
"We need to develop ways of supporting women which
harness the strengths and
skills of professionals across agencies in health,
but also in social work,
housing, education and, most importantly, the
expertise of specialist
agencies in the voluntary sector. No one agency can
meet the many and
complex needs of women experiencing domestic abuse in
isolation. As with so
many social and health problems effective responses
must cross professional
and organisational boundaries."
by the Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm.
The consultation period will last until the 20
September.
Domestic abuse is more likely to result in injury than
any other violent
crime and the severity of the violence and injury
generally escalates over
time.
In the 2000 in Scotland, 17 people were murdered by
their partners. 330
people sustained serious assaults. Over 36,000
incidents of domestic abuse
were referred to the local Domestic Violence
Unit.
The report of the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal
Deaths tells us
that 12% of women who dies in the two years to 1999
had volunteered
information about experiencing violence during
pregnancy to the health
staff looking after them.
During the development of A Framework for Maternity
Services in Scotland
the implications of not tackling domestic abuse in
the crucial ante-natal
period became very apparent. The executive gave a
commitment to produce
guidance for midwives. This commitment has now been
extended to prepare
guidelines on responding to domestic abuse for all
NHS staff and Boards in
response to demand.
Copies of the guidance are available on the NHS website
at
www.show.scot.nhs.uk
or hard copies are available from the Scottish
Executive by calling 0131 244 2272.