Hospitals to question possible domestic violence victims in ERs

Women being treated in emergency departments will be asked questions about their partner’s behaviour in an Australian-first trial to tackle domestic violence.

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Women being treated in emergency departments will be asked questions about their partner’s behaviour in an Australian-first trial to tackle domestic violence.

As many as 75,000 women, aged between 16 and 65, will be screened during the state government program to be piloted in six NSW hospitals.

With one woman killed nationally each week by her current or former partner, trained medical staff will ask patients questions about whether they are suffering physical and verbal abuse in their relationship.

Medical professionals will be able to ask women coming to hospital about domestic violence for the first time. Picture: Generic image

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NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Pru Goward said the project was designed to reach more women needing help.

“While ED staff are already aware of domestic violence risk factors for women, the routine screening of all women presenting to EDs during the pilot will be new,” Ms Goward said.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Pru Goward welcome the pilot program. Picture: Monique Harmer

“Women who come to the ED with any kind of unexplained injury should feel assured that if it’s not obvious they need support or protection, ED staff will have the skills to ask the right questions.

“We hope this project will improve the rate of early intervention for women, the sooner they access support services the sooner further physical and psychological harm can be minimised.”

NSW Health executive director of government relations Jacqui Ball said the one-year trial will involve screening patients — excluding the gravely ill — in private, in consultation or treatment rooms.

“If DV is suspected, the patient would be referred to our social workers on site and they would do a much more detailed risk-assessment and determine whether or not some immediate action needs to be taken,” Ms Ball said.

“What happens at the moment is that our staff identify the females themselves.

“They take particular cues about whether or not that person may be experiencing domestic violence so it’s really quite narrow and targeted.”

Domestic violence is the greatest health risk factor for women aged between 25 and 44 and is prevalent among female patients in EDs.

“They actually go to EDs more often because they are anonymous and because they are open 24 hours a day,” Ms Ball said.

If successful, Ms Ball said she hoped the $4.3 million federal government-funded pilot, due to start early next year, would be expanded across NSW.

Originally published as Hospitals to question possible domestic violence victims in ERs