New plans to improve care to adults that have suffered sexual assault or abuse are announced by Health Minister Edwina Hart.

Care for victims will be rolled out through Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) – where specialist staff are trained to counsel victims, and where police and other health practitioners can refer victims for examination, screening and treatment.

The proposals aim to provide more timely, appropriate and co-ordinated care. The recommended range of services for SARCs includes:

• A dedicated, forensically secure facility, integrated with hospital services
• Availability of forensic examination 24 hours a day, within 4 hours if necessary
• Immediate on-site access to emergency contraception and drugs to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV
• Integral follow-up services, including psycho-sexual support/counselling, sexual health and support throughout the criminal justice process

Health Minister, Edwina Hart, said: “Sexual assault is both a common and very serious crime. For victims, these crimes represent a violation of the basic right for an individual to be treated with dignity and respect, and to live without fear of sexual violence. Such incidents can have significant and ongoing consequences for health and wellbeing.

“The Welsh Assembly Government takes the problem of violence against women and domestic abuse very seriously. It has set aside an extra £1 million for the violence against women and domestic abuse budget next year, taking the total budget to £4.7 million.”

This proposal forms a key part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategic plan to tackle domestic abuse.

Last week, Social Justice Minister Dr Brian Gibbons launched a new campaign raising awareness of the ‘early warning signs’ of an abusive relationship and publicising the Wales Domestic Abuse helpline which provides support to people experiencing domestic abuse.

The proposals will now go out for a 12 week consultation. The closing date for responding to the consultation is 24 February 2010.

Source
The Welsh Assembly Government