A new guidance document for general practices has been published to help them respond effectively to patients experiencing domestic abuse. ‘Responding to Domestic Abuse: Guidance for General Practices’ was produced jointly by national charity Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA), the Identification & Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) programme and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and was funded by the Department of Health.
Professor Gene Feder, RCGP Domestic Violence Co-Champion and project lead for IRIS, said: “Domestic violence is a public health concern and an RCGP clinical priority. GPs are increasingly aware of this, but many practices do not have clear care pathways for how to respond to victims. Targeted at practice managers and clinicians, this guidance supports practices to respond appropriately and safely to women and men experiencing abuse.”
“There isn’t a victim, child or perpetrator who doesn’t have a GP,” said Diana Barran, Chief Executive of CAADA. “This means that GPs are in a unique and trusted position to help victims through early identification and signposting to specific support services. By supporting GPs to give a consistent response, this new guidance will help make victims safer.”
The short guidance document sets out key principles to enable GPs and healthcare staff to respond immediately and effectively to patients who disclose domestic abuse. The guidance also includes a process map for responding to domestic abuse and a directory of services.
Click here to download Responding to Domestic Abuse: Guidance for General Practices.
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