GDASS More victims seeking support as lock-down restrictions ease

More victims seeking support as lock-down restrictions ease   GDASS data is showing a steady increase in numbers of referrals and calls from victims as the lock-down restrictions are relaxed. This is  also being reported by other domestic abuse support agencies countrywide. In the same way that many patients who have worrying symptoms relating to cancer, strokes and heart conditions have not sought advice from their GPs during lock-down due to worries around Covid 19, many victims of abuse have also been riding out the lock-down until a safer time to seek help. For many victims of abuse, the abuse may have worsened or intensified during lock-down. However, victims have been unable to reach out for support due to limitations on seeing family and friends, as well as facing increasing barriers to seeing professionals such as GPs. As the restrictions ease and you see more patients and clients, remember to listen out to those subtle hints about how things have been at home.   Notice – Ask – Refer Lone Patient Policy and Disclosures   Many practitioners are seeing patients and clients alone for appointments due to managing risks around Covid19. Following this, we have had a number of reports of cases where patients have disclosed domestic abuse to health professionals when they would not have had the opportunity to do so normally due to their partner attending with them.  This highlights the benefits of using the Lone Patient Policy even once lock-down restrictions ease. For more information on the Lone Patient Policy, please get in touch with us. We are hoping to get some feedback on the Lone Patient Policy and will soon be sending out a brief survey so you can share your views about the benefits and barriers to using the Lone Patient Policy.