HC Deb 03 March 2003 vol 400 c877W
Vera Baird

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP practice nurses are given training to deal with domestic violence victims. [97122]

Mr. Hutton

The Government are committed to tackling domestic violence and have set up a Ministerial group working across Government to provide coordinated and concerted action, including the promotion of education and awareness raising.

The Department of Health published "Domestic Violence: A Resource Manual for Health Care Professionals" in March 2000. The resource manual provides a solid foundation for local multi-agency work and supports health care professionals and managers in developing their domestic violence policies, protocols and services to ensure victims receive the support they need. Building on this initiative, in 2001, as part of a three year health visitor and school nurse practice development programme, resource packs were produced which included information on dealing with domestic violence as a health priority.

An extra £50 million has been made available over the past two years to ensure that National Health Service employers have the capacity to deliver health professional training and development effectively and to ensure that all staff, including nurses working in general practice, have better access to training programmes.