The first NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day (NHSDAAD) takes place on Wednesday 10 December.
The Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) and the Medical Women’s Federation (MWF) have joined together to launch the campaign.
More than one in five people in England and Wales has experienced domestic abuse. Rates are especially high among female healthcare professionals. Research suggests they are three times more likely to experience it than the average person in the UK.
NHSDAAD highlights the urgent need to recognise and respond to domestic abuse affecting NHS staff. It also recognises the unique barriers they can face seeking help.
The campaign has the support of NHS Practitioner Health, Doctors in Distress, Surviving in Scrubs, BRIGHT (Bristol Research on the Intersection of Gender, Health, and Trauma), IRISi Intervention, Cameron Fund, Cavell, the Healthcare Leadership Academy, the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, and the Royal College of Physicians.
Domestic abuse
Domestic abuse occurs across society. It affects people of all ages, genders, sexualities, ethnicities, and income levels. However, it is predominantly women who suffer.
Three women in the UK die each week due to domestic abuse. A ten-year femicide census identified healthcare professionals (HCPs) as one of the most common occupations among victims.
The NHS is one of the world’s largest employers. In England it employs 1.7 million people, almost three quarters of whom are women.
These figures underline the likelihood that domestic abuse is affecting staff in every part of the health service.
NHSDAAD aims to ensure that the same culture of care extended to patients is offered to the workforce. Organisations are encouraged to foster an environment where staff feel able to seek help without fear of judgment or repercussion.
NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day
Dr Ellen Welch is DAUK co-chair, MWF campaigns co-lead and an organiser of NHSDAAD.
She said: “As a solo parent on social media parenting groups, it struck me just how many doctor mums confided their experience of abuse within these spaces.
“The more I’ve learned it’s clear this is more than just anecdotal, and domestic abuse is rife among health care professionals.
“NHSDAAD aims to ensure the same care and support staff extend to patients, is also given to them.
“We want to ensure NHS workplaces are a safe space for staff and to build a culture where colleagues feel listened to, supported, and are able to access help when they need it most.”
NHS staff
Dr Sarah Jacques, is DAUK GP co-lead, MWF campaigns co-lead, and an organiser of NHSDAAD .
She said: “This campaign will be deeply personal to a lot of NHS staff.
“For far too long our colleagues have been terrified to speak, frightened that asking for help would damage their careers or leave them exposed. No one should ever feel that trapped or alone.
“NHSDAAD is our commitment to creating a culture where people feel safe to come forward, are met with compassion, and can access support when they need it most.”
Professor Dame Jane Dacre, MWF president, said: “The Medical Women’s Federation is clear that any form of abuse is unacceptable, that’s why this campaign is so important.
Domestic abuse policies
“Domestic abuse of doctors and other healthcare professionals is especially concerning and needs to be highlighted in order to prevent harm to those who care for others.”
The campaign calls for all NHS organisations to maintain robust domestic abuse policies to protect staff. It also calls for domestic abuse education throughout university training and beyond.
Other calls include access to emergency hardship funds for those experiencing abuse, and a positive workplace culture that actively supports staff.
NHS staff and patients can get involved by wearing white ribbons, the symbol of the movement to end men’s violence against women and girls. They can also post on social media using the hashtag #NHSDAAD.
And resources are available on the NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day page on the DAUK website.
Lucy Warner, is chief executive of NHS Practitioner Health. She said: “Over the last few years we have identified a growing number of health and care professionals seeking mental health support through NHS Practitioner Health where domestic abuse is a factor.
Seeking help
“Seeking help through the usual channels can be especially challenging for those working in health and care settings.
“The potential overlap between personal and professional lives, such as encountering colleagues or even patients in support services, adds an additional layer of complexity, making it harder for professionals to access the care they need safely and confidentially.
“Through Practitioner Health, we are committed to providing psychological safety to enable healthcare professionals to disclose their experiences without fear of judgement or breach of confidentiality.”
Dr Becky Cox, is co-founder of Surviving in Scrubs. She said: “We are proud to support NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day in association with DAUK and the MWF.
“Too many women working in healthcare experience domestic abuse, we must urgently recognise this issue and prioritise support for survivors.”
Improve safety and support
Dr Sandi Dheensa, University of Bristol, research fellow in BRIGHT (Bristol Research on the Intersection of Gender, Health, and Trauma), said: “Policy increasingly emphasises healthcare professionals’ responsibilities to patients affected by abuse, but we need to improve safety and support for the 42 per cent of female HCPs who are experiencing domestic abuse themselves.”
Hayley Coates, is network, training and innovation manager at IRISi Intervention. She said: “At IRISi, we are the only national charity dedicated solely to improving the healthcare response to domestic abuse.
“Domestic abuse has wide-ranging impacts on physical and mental health, affecting patients and staff.”
“NHSDAAD is an important reminder that every health service must be equipped to respond safely and effectively.
“For more than a decade, our evidence-based programmes and research partnerships have supported healthcare professionals to identify, respond to, and refer victims and survivors with confidence.
Seen, heard, and supported
“Everyone affected by abuse deserves to be seen, heard, and supported and no one should face it alone.”
Dr Dasha Ibrahim, Women in Healthcare Leadership, said: “Domestic abuse often hides in silence. We know its impact falls unevenly, disproportionately affecting women.
“Today we stand with every survivor and we commit to creating healthcare spaces where everyone feel safe, heard, and supported.”
Steve Crone, Royal Medical Benevolent Fund chief executive, said: “We recognise the profound impact domestic abuse can have on doctors’ lives and careers. We are here to help.
“If you are a doctor experiencing domestic abuse and are in financial need, please get in touch with us. As a UK charity for doctors, any contact with the RMBF is completely confidential.”
Confidential
Professor Mumtaz Patel, Royal College of Physicians president, welcomed the establishment of NHSDAAD.
“We stand with the MWF and DAUK in calling for NHS employers to better support staff who may be experiencing domestic abuse.
“It’s vital healthcare institutions have clear easily accessible information and resources so that individuals know where to turn, and so that colleagues and managers can respond with empathy, compassion and confidentiality.”
All of our committee members are volunteers. They speak to the media and campaign on the issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support their work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.
