Photo courtesy of www.prhc.on.ca
Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has expanded its Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (SA/DV) team to include a total of five specially-trained forensic nurses.
The expanded SA/DV team now provides on-site coverage at PRHC seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on-call coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Emergency Department, ensuring timely access to confidential, trauma- and violence-informed care for survivors of all ages and genders.
The SA/DV team at PRHC offers immediate medical care, crisis support, safety planning and forensic evidence collection, all guided by patient consent and choice. In addition to urgent care, PRHC offers follow‑up treatment and counselling through the Women’s Health Care Centre for individuals who have experienced violence in the past. Services include testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy; assessment of injuries, including those that may not be visible; and connections to community, legal and social supports.
“Our hope, both as an SA/DV team and as members of the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, is that anyone who experiences this kind of trauma and violence knows there is a safe and compassionate place to go for care,” said Bobbi Martin-Haw, Manager of PRHC’s Women’s and Children’s Program. “That should be true no matter where they live, what resources they have or what they have experienced.”
PRHC’s program is one of 37 hospital-based SA/DV treatment centres supported by the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, which is focused on improving access to care, outreach and research. Recent Ministry of Health funding has supported new leadership roles across the province, including six regional nurse clinical practice leaders and nurse team leader positions at all 37 centres.
In addition to expanding the team from two full-time Registered Nurses to five specially-trained forensic nurses, it is also improving access to follow-up counselling with social workers who have additional training in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
As the regional hub site, PRHC works closely with Campbellford Memorial Hospital, Haliburton Highlands Health Services, Northumberland Hills Hospital and Ross Memorial Hospital to support coordinated care closer to home for patients across the region. The SA/DV team also partners with community organizations and services, including paramedics and police, to raise awareness of available supports.
“Regional partnerships and community outreach are essential to making sure survivors know support is available and can access care as close to home as possible,” said Candace Rosenberg, Director of the Women’s and Children’s Program. “By working closely with partner hospitals and community agencies, we are strengthening awareness, coordination and access to trauma-informed care across the region. Together, these efforts help to ensure that people who experience sexual assault or domestic violence can access the compassionate, high-quality care they need, when and where they need it.”
Survivors and care providers across the province can access the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres 24/7 Navigation Line for information about healthcare options, forensic evidence collection and the nearest treatment centre.
(Written by: Felicia Massey)
