New report states that over two thirds of domestic abuse victims in Surrey not signposted to specialist help
A new report completed by Healthwatch Surrey aims to increase collaboration between GPs and domestic abuse specialists.
A new report completed by Healthwatch Surrey has been published with the aim to increase collaboration between GPs and domestic abuse specialists.
The aim of the report
The foreword in the report states the following:
“This valuable research will enable us to support our GP practices in meeting the needs of domestic abuse survivors, while acknowledging the challenges of modern general practice.
By further understanding the response and support needed by survivors, we are better placed to work together to ensure the best possible health outcomes."
Abby Rodd, who is the Deputy Contract Manager at Healthwatch Surrey says that the report not only helps provide solutions, but gives helps give victims a voice.
"I think what's really great about this project, it gives victims a voice, as well as creating some solutions, we're also just raising awareness of this issue, which is so big and so important."
The report looked at the process for domestic abuse victims to get help to learn what needs to be streamlined in order to help provide more people with help.
The report asked 130 about their experience and highlighted key statistics.
68% of respondents to the survey said that they were not signposted to specialist help from an independent domestic abuse and violence service once they had shared their domestic abuse experience with their GP.
89% of respondents said that a GP or another member of the practice team had not directly referred them to specialist help.
Why some people don't reach out for help
The report also highlighted seven key factors as to why people might not reach out for help, divided into two groups, one being institutional factors and processes, the other being survivor perception and beliefs.
Institutional factors and processes
- Lack of professional curiosity
- Appointment booking and confidentiality
- Perceived lack of understanding
- Fear of authority
- Perpetrator’s presence
Survivor perception and beliefs
- Generational and cultural attitudes
- Recognition of domestic abuse
Abby was quick to point out that GPs and specialist bodies have the support people need, it's just that they're not as efficient and effective as they can be.
"Both GPS and specialist bodies are really trying to do the best for patients. Both of them are really important sources of support for patients. But what we identified was a bit of an inconsistency in terms of referrals and signposting across the board."
How people might not realise they need help
Abby says that it's common for domestic abuse victims to not realise that they are a victim.
"I mean we've spoken to a variety of of of people experiencing domestic abuse and it can be anyone who doesn't understand, they think this maybe think this is normal. They think maybe they're overreacting."
"We've spoken to survivors who are actually being abused by their own children or men who are being abused, and they think that they can't possibly be being abused."
Abby also spoke about how a lot of people feel they can't talk about family issues outside home.
"Often it's people feeling like, oh, this is this is my problem, this is a family problem. I can't possibly talk to anyone else about it."
"But I think obviously, where possible, it does need to change because if people are suffering from domestic abuse, they need help and they need support and there is so much help and support out there, we would always encourage people to go and see the GP, the specialist services, there is help out there."
What needs to be done
Abby says that the next stages are implementing the solutions that they have thought of off the back of the report.
"There are a lot of different solutions that came out, potential things that we can make better.
They were things like creating a standardised referral form between the GP and specialist services, promoting domestic abuse specialist within GP practice, creating stronger links between the GP and services and we're now all going to be working together to try and implement some of those suggestions."
Abby added that they would be looking to continue collaborating with organisations in the future, to continue to work on finding and implementing solutions to help make it easier for victims of domestic abuse to get help.
"So the the project was a collaboration with specialist domestic abuse organisations and safeguarding leads from from the health system
we're now at the stages of of working very strongly with them together just to to work out how we can actually implement some of those solutions. So that'll be happening over the next few months."