Article Text
Abstract
Background/introduction County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) recently published local standards of care for patients disclosing sexual assault within the sexual health service. CDDFT is the sole provider of sexual health services throughout the county, offering fully integrated GUM, Family Planning and HIV clinics.
Aim(s)/objectives This study aims describe the current management of sexual assault within CDDFT Sexual Health Services.
Methods Patients who disclosed an alleged sexual assault from 01.01.2014–31.12.2014 were identified by local electronic codes and retrospective case note review was performed. Summary statistics were calculated using STATA v 11.0 and means /percentages presented as appropriate.
Results Of 55 patients reporting alleged sexual assault, 44 case notes were available for review (80%). 39 patients were female (89%) and 5 were male (11%) with a similar mean age of 24.5 years. Police involvement was equally prevalent in patients reporting recent verses historical sexual assault (18/28 (64%) v 9/16 (56%) p = 0.52) and incident details were recorded in all cases where police referral was declined (17/17, 100%). 39/44 patients accepted STI screening, 7/44 patients were at risk of unwanted pregnancy and accepted emergency contraception; 12/44 patients were offered prophylactic antibiotics and 24/44 were offered Hep B vaccination; 6/44 patients commenced PEP and 6/8 under 18 year olds were referred to local safeguarding teams.
Discussion/conclusion Patients reporting alleged sexual assault were seen infrequently but often had complex needs. Implementing new local policy with strengthen our ability to identify these patients and standardise our approach to management.