Vol. 513 No. 6
265 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the health services assist victims of domestic violence in view of the fact surveys show that 96% of people are of the view that medical services should help where women are victims of violence. [3088/00]
The regional health boards are responsible for the provision of services for the victims of domestic violence. These services, in the main, take the form of rape crisis interventions in addition to the provision of refuge accommodation for women and their families. The funding made available for this work has been increased over the past two years and there is now approximately £6 million spent on these services annually. In addition, I have made funding available this year through the Eastern Health Board in order to release two hospital based health care workers for a pilot project aimed at training accident and emergency staff to recognise the signs of domestic violence with a view to early intervention.
