This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New guidance on domestic abuse
10/03/2003
New guidance to help the NHS respond appropriately to
victims of domestic abuse has been published today.
The guidance, Responding to Domestic Abuse: Guidelines
for Health Care Workers in NHSScotland, has been prepared
with help from a short-life working group which included a
wide range of health professionals and other interests.
It provides health care workers with:
- An overview of domestic abuse in Scotland
- Information about the health effects of domestic
abuse and potential signs and indicators of domestic
abuse
- Practical advice about how to approach the
difficult task of talking about abuse
- Identifies what should be in place to help health
care workers respond effectively to anyone experiencing
domestic abuse
- Highlights good practice for professionals to help
them inform and support women
The guidelines also include information for NHS
organisations about dealing with domestic abuse as
employers. It outlines their responsibilities to respond
sensitively and sympathetically to staff experiencing
abuse.
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"The Executive is strongly committed to raising
awareness amongst professionals and the public about
domestic abuse. We are improving information about the
scale and the nature of the problem and ensuring women and
children get the protection and support they need, when
they need it.
"NHSScotland is in a unique position to contribute to
helping people who suffer violence get support. Virtually
every woman in Britain will use the health care system at
some point in her life.
"Any health care professional may have the opportunity
to identify someone experiencing domestic abuse and to
empower women to get help and support. In fact, health
services may often be a women's only contact with
professionals who might recognise the signs of domestic
abuse and intervene.
"The health service therefore has a vital role in
identifying, assessing and responding to domestic violence.
I believe these guidelines will be an invaluable tool. I am
delighted that the National Group on Tackling Domestic
Abuse, which my colleague, Margaret Curran, chairs, has
endorsed these guidelines and will support their
implementation.
"We now look to NHS Boards to consider the guidelines
carefully and take the necessary steps to implement them
locally."
The guidelines also lists sources of information and
support for individuals, including contact details for
other agencies and bodies which play a role in responding
to domestic abuse.
The guidance builds on guidelines available from the
Royal Colleges (medical and nursing), professional
organisations and other sources. It takes account of recent
research and policy documents from the World Health
organisation (WHO), the United Nations, governments across
the world, women's organisations and other supporting
charities.
Statistics show that in 2001 there were 700 incidents
per 100,000 population in Scotland. More than 350 people
experienced serious assault and 13 people were murdered by
their partners in the same year.
Today, Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran will give
the keynote address to a seminar on The National Strategy
to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotland. It is the third
annual seminar held to reflect on the progress made in
implementing the National Strategy.