Smith welcomes BMA report on Domestic Violence
Ulster Unionist North Down councillor Marion Smith has welcomed the publication by the British Medical Assocation of a report on domestic abuse and violence. The report is the work in the BMA’s Board of Science and is evidence of the seriousness with which the medical professions view the health and social impacts of domestic violence.
Mrs. Smith said, “the BMA’s report is an important contribution to the ongoing challenge facing our society to confront the reality of domestic violence. The report makes for sobering reading. Alongside the fear and threats endured by women because of violence in the home, the report estimates that domestic violence costs our society and economy over £30billion every year. There is also the tragic figure of 750,00 children who witness domestic abuse - and approximately half of these children are themselves also victims of abuse. The dangerous lie that domestic violence is a private matter cannot stand in light of such statistics.
“The report’s calls for doctors and other medical professionals should receive training on identifying and enquiring about domestic abuse, urges a multi-agency approach to addressing domestic violence, and shows that victims of domestic abuse want doctors to be able to refer them to specialist services. It also importantly calls for strategies to identify and reduce the impact made by domestic abuse on the lives of women and children.
“In recent Assembly debate on domestic violence, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey demonstrated his commitment to tackling the issue and giving resources to support women facing violence at home. The BMA’s report shows the need for such action - and for continued action by the Executive to address an issue that scars the lives of too many families across Northern Ireland”.
The report can be read at http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/PDFdomesticabuse/$FILE/DomesticAbuse.pdf