Health staff 'missing opportunities' to spot signs of domestic abuse

[SunsetBeetch]

"Why you can trust Sky News
More than half of front-line healthcare staff say they do not feel able to identify a domestic abuse victim, according to a new survey.

:: Warning: This report includes photos of injures that some readers may find distressing"

news.sky.com/story/half-of-patient-facing-health-staff-unable-to-identify-domestic-abuse-victims-11780598

Errr, didn't mean to paste the "why you can trust Sky News" bit...

I'm not surprised at all. Missed opportunities indeed. Those tiny cracks in the veneer, little moments of opening up, a massive gamble, and so easily missed. I want to cry thinking of her sitting in the GP's with her husband, making a statement like that, only for it not to be picked up.

The private sector is worse than the NHS, so that doesn't bode well. And I'm shocked by the customer facing staff who think it isn't their problem.

I'm shocked by the customer facing staff who think it isn't their problem.

I think maybe they are in the wrong job if they dont care about their patients!

I’m quite surprised at healthcare staff apparently not being aware of possible signs of domestic abuse. The trust I work for covers this as part of its’ annual mandatory training.

Signs being missed due to the pressures of a ridiculous workload I could understand.

I also don’t understand why anyone would consider it ‘not my problem’. The well being of your patient is definitely your problem, surely? If someone declines help then you have a different situation.

My mum went to the dentist and he said 'oh your tooth is cracked as if someone's punched you in the face' went to the GP and the ENT at the hospital with a perforated eardrum that had previously been fine. Nothing ever said.

That's awful, Heartofglass xx

Not being listened to by medical professionals is used as proof of “it never happened” in courts of law.

Amazon Prime screening the Lorena Bobbitt case has done a good job highlighting domestic abuse.

Thanks. It was a weird situation for me as my mum was never trapped or afraid to leave. If she had left my stepdad wouldn't have given a shit. It makes it harder really as it always felt like she chose him over me and my sisters. This was about 15 years ago, even the police wouldn't help. They did tell her to change the locks and not let him back in, but it was a council house in his name (so his house according to him) so she let him back in. They didn't refer to social services or anything. I was a young teen when it started and no one knew apart from my friends. School never picked up on anything. It was sad how under the radar I was really. Hopefully things have changed!