Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 - NHS North Somerset

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Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 Chapter 5 Sexual Assault What is the problem? Sexual assault can cause severe and long term harm to individuals. Immediate health risks include pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, injury and psychological problems 19 . In the long-term victims have an increased risk of a number of health conditions including depression, drug misuse, self-harm and suicide. Each adult rape is estimated to cost society over £96,000 from time off work, and costs to the NHS and criminal justice system. 5 In 2010/11, there were 131 sexual offences reported to the police by people living in North Somerset. Of those, 23 were for rape. This compares to 123 sexual offences and 32 rapes reported in 2009/10. The rate of police recorded rape in North Somerset (21.6 per 100,000 women) was significantly below the England average (53.1 per 100,000 women) in 2010/11. Despite progress in recent years, national estimates suggest that up to nine in ten rapes go unreported and 38% of serious sexual 19 The Government Response to the Stern Review. An independent review into how rape complaints are handled by public authorities in England and Wales. Cabinet Office, March 2011. 22
Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 assault victims tell no one about their experience 20 . In serious sexual assaults in women aged over 16, 54% were assaulted by a current or ex-partner with 36% of cases involving alcohol and 9% drugs. What are we doing about it? Victims are much more likely to take positive steps to recovery when given appropriate support. Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) were established to promote recovery and health following a rape or sexual assault, whether or not victims wish to report to the police. A Sexual Assault Referral Centre provides specialist clinical care to victims, forensic examination, counselling (up to ten sessions), and support through the criminal justice system. In North Somerset the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre is provided by The Bridge based in central Bristol. In 2010/11, it supported 40 clients from North Somerset, 30 of whom received forensic medical examinations and counselling. The number of clients seen in the Sexual Assault Referral Centre is well below the number of reported sexual offences. Efforts are being made to reach more women with a marketing campaign run by The Bridge with GP practices in North Somerset. In addition, an outreach service has been established to provide counselling sessions in Nailsea since June 2011. The outreach counsellor sees five clients per week. However, due to the high level of under-reporting there could be as many as ten times this number of people needing support in North Somerset. The Home Office and Department of Health have made it a priority to increase specialist service provision. Their proposed objective is to ensure that every victim of serious sexual assault in England (and Wales) should have access to a Sexual Assault Referral Centre as part of a co-ordinated community response. Avon and Somerset Police run awareness campaigns to prevent sexual assaults and rape across the area. Planning for the Future The Government’s White Paper on public health, ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People’, published in 2010, highlights sexual health as a priority area 21 . The paper describes the Government’s vision of an integrated model of sexual health service delivery, with services being confidential and non-judgmental. North Somerset is developing a sexual health strategy that mirrors this vision. Historically, local sexual health services such as contraception, sexually transmitted infections, abortions and health promotion have been provided in different places. An integrated service means that these different services are provided in one place, with referrals made only for specialist care. This makes it easier for patients to access services, is more cost effective and improves overall sexual health outcomes. 20 Kevin Smith (Ed.), Kathryn Coleman, Simon Eder and Philip Hall: Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2009/10 Supplementary Volume 2 to Crime in England and Wales 2009/10, Home Office, January 2011. 21 Department of Health. Healthy Lives Healthy People White Paper. Our Strategy for public health in England. November 2010. 23
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Director of Public Health Annual Report 2011 - NHS North Somerset

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