Domestic Abuse: A Conversation With Surrey and Sussex Healthcare’s IDVA and guests

Season 1: Episode 3 A conversation with Liz and Lucy about the IRIS programme

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Episode notes

One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their life time. Between 6% and 23% of women attending general practice will have experienced physical or sexual abuse from their partner or a previous partner in the preceding year. On average two women in England and Wales are killed by a male partner or ex- partner each week. (The Health Foundation, 2011. Home Office, 2005) 80% of women in a violent relationship seek help from health services at least once (usually general practice) and this may be their first or only contact with professionals. (Department of Health, 2000)
 Domestic violence is a common problem that is almost invisible in primary healthcare, even though women would most like to receive support from their doctors. Only around 15% of women with a history of domestic violence have any reference to abuse in their medical record in primary care. IRIS is a specialist domestic violence and abuse (DVA) training, support and referral programme for general practices. It is a partnership between health and the specialist DVA sector. IRIS provides in-house DVA training for general practice teams and a named advocate to whom patients can be referred for support. Since 2010, IRIS has received 10,369 referrals and fully trained an estimated 695 general practices in 36 localities nationwide. For more information follow the link https://irisi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/IRIS_Booklet.pdf