Referrals for specialist NHS support after sexual assault have risen 18% in two years, with calls for more awareness of self-referral options
The number of people being referred for specialist NHS support after rape or sexual assault has increased by nearly 18% in the last two years, according to NHS data.
NHS sexual assault referral centres, which provide free, specialist support to anyone across England who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused, received 26,374 referrals last year, compared with 22,407 referrals in 2022, NHS England said.
The rise follows campaigns by the NHS to ensure more people are aware of the medical, practical and emotional support available and to raise awareness of the roll-out of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) among GPs.
Services offered by the centres include crisis care, medical and forensic examinations, emergency contraception and testing for sexually
transmitted infections. NHS data indicates that 61% of all service-users last year were under the age of 25, with about 7,000 referrals (27%) being made for children under the age of 15, NHS England said.
While more people are now accessing support, levels of self-referrals remain low, with the majority of referrals (78%) coming via the police, suggesting many people may not realise they can seek NHS support without going to the police if they wish, NHS England added.
The NHS urges GPs to help ensure patients know that they can contact an SARC 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for help, and receive support anonymously if they wish to.
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