Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Imkaan’s report entitled Why Should Our Rage be Tidy, published in November 2024, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS is equipped to (a) identify and (b) appropriately respond to signs of domestic and sexual violence.

Imkaan’s report highlights the distinct and additional challenges faced by black and minoritised victims of domestic and sexual violence. All National Health Service staff are required to complete mandatory safeguarding training which includes how to identify and respond to domestic and sexual violence. This training is being revised and is due to be re-launched in early 2026. The training update will strengthen the importance of intersectional considerations, including helping staff to understand the impact of trauma and cultural barriers to discussing abuse.

There are a wide range of healthcare services that victims and survivors can access including sexual assault referral centres, which provide medical, practical and emotional support to victims of sexual assault and onward referral to wider support services.

National Health Service trusts and integrated care boards have appointed Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence leads to review their policies, training and support systems for patients and staff. This network of leads is used to help share and promote good practice, identify issues and develop practical solutions to support both patients and staff affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.