§ Vera BairdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice is given to paramedics and accident and emergency staff as to their responsibilities if they regard injured persons they attend as victims of domestic violence; [97171]
(2) what training is given to paramedics and ambulance personnel in dealing with people they perceive to be the victims of domestic violence and their responsibilities of (a) confidentiality and (b) to report the commission of crime. [97239]
§ Mr. Lammy[holding answers 11 February and 12 February 2003]: It is the responsibility of individual trusts to develop policies on dealing with people they perceive to be the victims of domestic violence.
To assist individual trusts, the Department published Domestic Violence: A Resource Manual for Health Professionals two years ago. This manual sets out to increase the knowledge and understanding of health care professionals including staff in accident and emergency and ambulance trusts about the nature of domestic violence and how it is likely to be evident in the patients they care for.