Improving NHS services for victims of sexual crime

Victims of rape and sexual assault will be able to refer themselves for forensic examination without having to report a crime to police, as a result of measures outlined in a new Scottish Government Bill.

The Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) Scotland Bill contains a number of proposed changes including introducing clear legal responsibilities for health boards to provide direct access to forensic medical services for victims in a process known as ‘self-referral’, and establishing clear rights for victims to know what will happen with evidence taken from them.

This evidence may support any future criminal justice process, if a victim does not wish to report the incident they have suffered to the police or is undecided about doing so.

In addition, Ministers have announced £200,000 of funding for an initiative to develop the role of nurse sexual offence examiners in Scotland. This will allow appropriately qualified and experienced nurses to undertake forensic medical examinations of victims of sexual crime and give evidence in court, something only doctors can do currently.

Welcoming publication of the Bill, Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

“Improving access to healthcare services for victims of rape and sexual assaults is central to our determination to provide sensitive support to those who need it.

“By ensuring the choice to self-refer is available consistently across Scotland, we hope that people who might currently be reluctant to make a police report are encouraged to access appropriate NHS services and get the support they need at a time of significant trauma.”

Sandy Brindley, Chief Executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, said:

“We welcome this significant and important step forward and believe that when law, this has the potential to transform how forensic services are provided to survivors of sexual violence across Scotland.

"Sexual crimes are fundamentally abuses of power and about taking someone’s control – which is why it is so important and encouraging that this bill recognises and works to counter this by making sure that survivors are in control of procedures and processes around their evidence and property.

“Adopting a trauma-informed approach that focusses on the individual, on their needs and their health care is vital, and an important element of this is moving to using nurses as forensic examiners. This is a key development, and one which could make a huge difference.”

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has been closely involved in the proposals to develop the nurse examiner workforce in Scotland.

The Lord Advocate said:

“Scottish prosecutors take crimes of rape and sexual offences extremely seriously. COPFS is committed to contributing to improvement of the criminal justice system.

“I welcome the initiative to develop the nurse Sexual Offence Examiner role, which could enhance the service available to complainers. It will allow us to monitor and evaluate the scheme and seek to establish the role’s viability within the criminal justice system.”

Background

Read the full details on the Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) Bill, including a link to the Bill, accompanying documents and impact assessments.

The CMO leads the Rape and Sexual Assault Taskforce, supporting Health Boards to provide consistent, trauma informed healthcare and forensic medical services and access to recovery for anyone who has experienced rape or sexual assault.

A key priority for the CMO Taskforce – backed by £8.5 million funding over three years - is to support health boards to develop a multi-disciplinary workforce to enable appropriately qualified and experienced nurses to undertake forensic medical examinations of victims of sexual crime and give evidence in court. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will host a new initiative to develop the role of nurse Sexual Offence Examiners in Scotland.

A new Postgraduate Qualification course is being developed at Queen Margaret University, aimed at helping build this multi-disciplinary workforce for the future. This approach is vital to supporting the sustainability of services in rural and island communities as well as increasing the number of women available to undertake this important work.