Royal North Shore Hospital ED staff involved in the domestic and family violence routine screening program
Top accolade for RNSH emergency department
Royal North Shore Hospital’s ED domestic and family violence routine screening program is earning praise. The team was nominated as a NSW Premier’s Award finalist for the pilot program which identifies women at risk of domestic and family violence and provides psychosocial support. Specialist registered nurses screen all women over 16 years who present to the ED, with those identified as at risk of harm provided with appropriate referral
and management strategies. RNSH ED Clinical Nurse
“It has been a great experience to work with the team of nurses, doctors, executive team, social workers, prevention and response to violence abuse and neglect service (PARVAN), and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service to respond to our patients’ experience of domestic violence. “We have demonstrated that with multi-agency collaboration, innovation, leadership, and dedication we could achieve the highest international screening rates across emergency departments.” “The project has scope to be implemented in all emergency departments throughout NSW.”
Consultant Lesley Fitzpatrick said staff undertook the pilot project to improve identification of women at risk of domestic and family violence to provide access to immediate, ongoing psychosocial response, and support services for victim-survivors. “The ED team has come together to embrace this project during a pandemic, and it has been remarkable to see results that reduce the impact of domestic and family violence within the community and improve women and children’s access to safety,” Lesley said.
32 NSLHD 2022 Year in Review
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