caring Communication

Domestic Abuse: A Healthcare Issue
Attendees at the first CUH/CUMH Domestic
Abuse conference heard the very disturbing,
yet powerful, personal stories of women
who are victims of domestic abuse.
The inaugural conference was opened by
Jason Kenny, Operations Manager, Cork University
Hospital, last month. Well over 100
people, including midwifery, general nursing,
psychiatry, social work, medical colleagues
and NCHDs attended this multidisciplinary
conference.
Dr Louise Crowley, UCC Law School, provided
the conference with updated information
on the upcoming Domestic Violence Bill
2015 which has extended safety and barring
orders to include communication by electronic
means and in applications for interim
barring orders removes the requirement for
similar or greater ownership in the property.
These welcomed proposed amendments
widen the scope for protection of victims
under the current Domestic Abuse Act.
Don Hennessy, counsellor and former Director
of the National Domestic Violence Intervention
Agency, provided some interesting
insight into the psychology of the perpetrator.
From his years of work as a relationship counsellor,
he shared his experience and understanding
of the complexities of relationships
marred by domestic abuse.
Louise Kelly spoke about her experience as
a consultant surgeon responding to a complex
and life-threatening case of domestic
violence. This case brought home to everyone
the significant health risks that can be associated
domestic abuse, with this case alone
costing the CUH in the region of €64,000.
This conference explored the legal, psychological
and medical cost of domestic abuse
in Ireland and allowed attendees to reflect
on the complexities of domestic abuse as a
healthcare issue.
1. Some of the speakers at the conference; 2. Laura
Connolly and Orlaith Murphy Mid Wifes CUMH; 3.
Margo Noonan CNS Safe HSE and Juvy Paz Theatre
Nurse CUH; 4. Dr Louise Crowley School of Law,UCC;
5. Dearbhla Ni Riordain Manager Social Works Services
CUH; 6. Some of those in attendance; 7. Marguerite
O’Rourke and Michelle Crotty, Social Workers Mental-
Health West Cork .Pictures Gerard McCarthy
spring 2016 | health matters | 61