Most abused women are being 'let down' by the health service, according to the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland.
According to the RCN "nurses are not trained in dealing with domestic violence" and fail to pick up, and respond to the many abused women who seek hospital treatment. The RCN quotes statistics from the United States which show that almost 35 per cent of women attending accident and emergency units are there because of domestic violence yet in only 5 per cent cases is the cause of the injuries identified.
The organisation calculates that every year, 8,000 nurses in Scotland come in to contact with patients who have experienced domestic violence yet they are ill equipped to respond. Last week, the RCN launched its own guidelines on domestic abuse to members, and is calling on the NHS to provide extensive training to nurses.
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Increase in domestic violence victims visiting GPs
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Youth Justice and the Youth Justice Board
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Substance misuse
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Details of government consultations
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Private Member Bills
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Government Legislation
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