HEALTH AND PUBLIC SECTOR PROFESSIONALS TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Health and public sector professionals are being asked for their views on how the NHS can improve its services for women and girls who have been victims of violence and sexual assault, Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.

Each year, across the UK, 3 million women experience violence including domestic violence, sexual violence, forced marriage and trafficking. The Taskforce on the health aspects of violence against women and girls is holding a month long in a listening exercise to collect feedback from health and other public sector professionals.

Health Minister Ann Keen 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. Furthermore, more than a third of all rapes recorded by the police are committed against children under 16 years of age.

“We know that victims of violence can find it easier to seek help from trusted health professionals and that is why we want health and public sector professionals to tell us what they think of the service provided by the NHS and how it might be improved.

“This will form a valuable contribution to a cross-Government strategy, to be published later this year, which aims to ensure that all frontline services work closely together to reduce violence against women and girls and provide the best possible support to victims.”

Health and public sector professionals will be asked for their views on areas including:

· Service delivery - early identification, access to healthcare services, staff awareness and attitudes maximising NHS resources

· Service commissioning – needs assessment, NHS commissioning, joint commissioning, commissioning from non-NHS providers

· Partnership working – information sharing, service level agreements and protocols, collaborative service delivery

Health and public sector professionals should go to www.dh.gov.uk/vawg to register their views by the 14 October 2009.