Doctors and nurses should 'check for domestic violence' and 'ask questions'

NICE says that doctors and nurses should receive special training in order to recognise the signs of domestic violence.

16:47 26 February 2014

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says that there are 1.2 million women and 784,000 men in Wales and England who experience domestic violence every year. For this reason, it will now publish a new guideline to raise awareness among those coming into contact with victims. It suggested giving doctors and nurses special training in order to recognise the signs of abuse.

The guidance says: "Health and social care service managers and professionals should ensure front-line staff in all services are trained to recognise the indicators of domestic violence and abuse and can ask relevant questions to help people disclose their past or current experiences of such violence or abuse.

"The inquiry should be made in private on a one-to-one basis in an environment where the person feels safe, and in a kind, sensitive manner."

Prof Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health at the NICE, said the guidance was designed to "provide a wake-up call" to a "significant problem".

"Domestic violence and abuse are far more common than people think. Everyone in society needs to understand both the extent of the problem and the damage it causes," he said.