Improving the Primary Care Response to Domestic Violence

In brief

The NHS deals with the consequences of domestic violence on a daily basis; either by treating injuries sustained or by caring for patients with long-term health problems that stem from violence and abuse, such as mental health issues, alcohol misuse or sexually transmitted diseases.

There have recently been calls for urgent action to be taken to improve the NHS response to violence and abuse against women.

The Department of Health has highlighted the need for a more systematic approach from the NHS in responding to domestic violence. In particular, 'Responding to violence against women and children – the role of the NHS' recommends that primary care trusts should ensure women and children who are experiencing violence and abuse are provided with information that helps them to access specialist services quickly and safely.

We have funded a trial, through our Engaging with quality in primary care programme, to test an educational support approach for GP practices to help them identify and refer patients who are experiencing domestic violence (‘Identification and referral to improve safety’ (IRIS)). Following the success of this trial, ‘IRIS – strengthening impact’ (IRISimp), an implementation programme to mainstream the IRIS model into practices across the country, has begun.

This two-year programme began in June 2010 and involves encouraging commissioning of the IRIS model by primary care trusts and providing educator training.

The two specialist domestic violence agencies that delivered the original IRIS trial in Bristol and Hackney, East London, will function as demonstration sites for IRISimp, and the original advocate-educators from these sites will deliver the programme.