Story Highlight
- Women in Coventry to receive specialist help for domestic abuse.
- New £6.7 million ‘Steps to Safety’ NHS scheme launched.
- GPs can refer victims directly to specialist support services.
- MP Mary Creagh highlights importance of GP appointments for victims.
- Programme aims to improve early detection of abuse in healthcare.
Full Story
Women in Coventry experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence will be among the first in the UK to receive enhanced specialist support from the NHS under a new scheme. The ‘Steps to Safety’ initiative, backed by nearly £7 million in funding, will enable victims to access necessary help through their GP appointments.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB collaboratively secured £6.7 million from the government, marking it as the largest allocation provided to date. Additionally, the Victims Support Fund will contribute £87,849 to bolster local specialist services.
Mary Creagh, Member of Parliament for Coventry East, commented on the initiative, stating, “For many victims, a GP appointment is the first, sometimes the only, safe moment to ask for help. Too often women have been left to find the right door on their own. Steps to Safety recognises this and provides greater support. Now, a single conversation with a doctor or nurse can lead straight to the specialist support someone needs.”
Creagh expressed satisfaction with Coventry and Warwickshire ICB taking the lead in this national programme, stating, “This £6.7 million allocation will help services in our city reach more survivors, and sooner. I will keep working with local health and domestic abuse organisations to make sure it makes an impact here in Coventry.”
The ‘Steps to Safety’ programme aims to establish a “no wrong front door” approach, ensuring that individuals seeking help are swiftly connected to appropriate specialist support. It will enhance the NHS’s capacity to identify abuse early, as healthcare services are often the first point of disclosure for victims. Further developments include the appointment of a new National Clinical Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls and the consultation on a national public health framework prioritising prevention and early intervention.
Source: read the original report.
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