This weekend, The Guardian highlighted the urgent need for a stronger NHS response to domestic abuse. If anyone knows how urgent this is, it’s us.

and respond to domestic abuse and sexual violence, is evidence-based and measurable. Training cannot stand alone and responses need to include a referral pathway to specialist services for victims and survivors."

"However, as the only national specialist charity working with health and gender-based violence, we urge the government to ensure that the offer provided through the Steps to Safety scheme, which will be available to GP practice staff in all regions so they can better identify

"It is promising to hear from the government that there will be a new national NHS initiative to ensure there are dedicated referral services for women and girls affected by violence and abuse in every area of England by 2029."

In response to today's government announcement about a new national initiative called Steps to Safety that will involve GP surgeries being better equipped to identify and respond to domestic abuse and sexual violence, IRISi's Chief Executive, Medina Johnson, said:

As we reach the end of the #16DaysOfActivism, we finish with words from an IRIS-trained GP: "I am now convinced that violence against women and girls is a major public health problem.... as an experienced GP, the whole project has been nothing short of transformational" #16Days

On Day 15 of #16Days, we want to focus on being able to give not only practical support but belief & hope. When you get the response to domestic abuse right, you give survivors - who often will have lost their confidence and self-esteem - important hope for the future. #16Days

This #16Days we are proud to collaborate with @pegs_support to raise awareness of digital abuse and explain how we work at IRISi to address it. #16daysofactivism #16days

IRIS transforms how general practice responds to domestic abuse, turning everyday health conversations into opportunities for safety, trust and lasting change. #16days #16daysofactivism

Today we hear from survivor and campaigner Sam Beckinsale: "Not only does coercive and controlling behaviour have a direct physical impact on those experiencing it, including the children, but my new GP was the first person I trusted to tell."

Laura is supporting our #16Days campaign to show why domestic abuse training is essential in healthcare settings. #16DaysOfActivism *name changed for safety reasons

Today, we hear from Laura* whose health visitor witnessed her partner's abuse when their son was a baby, but did not know how to respond. Laura tells us how she believes she would have left her abuser years before if her health visitor had specialist domestic abuse training.

90% of IRIS service users reported a reduction in seeing their GP after the programme - getting the domestic abuse response right at an early stage can help relieve the pressure on the healthcare system. #16days

That is why I’m so pleased to see IRIS targeting their work where it really matters- on the frontline of healthcare. Embedding specialist domestic abuse support into everyday healthcare settings."

Many victims of domestic abuse don’t go to the police – they go to a clinician. It is vital that healthcare workers recognise and know how to best support survivors.

During my time there, I met with and talked to many survivors of abuse. I learned about the help they received in escaping abuse and what it meant to them. For many, it was life saving. Three women a week die as a result of domestic abuse.

Today as part of our #16Days campaign, we hear from Lucy Gaskell, who played a survivor of domestic abuse in the BBC1 programme Casualty. Lucy says: "I played a survivor of domestic abuse in the BBC One show, Casualty...

At IRISi we warmly welcome @Jess4Lowestoft into her new role as VAWG advisor for the health system & look forward to working with her. It is reassuring to have someone in this role with a background of working in domestic abuse, & are hopeful for what this means for survivors.

Areas implementing our programmes are 30 times more likely to identify and refer survivors - healthcare needs to be at the heart of our response to domestic abuse. #16Days #DomesticAbuse #Health

A quote from an IRIS service user - we know that when domestic abuse is addressed, health services are used less. #16DaysOfActivism #domesticviolenceawareness #domesticabuseawareness

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