The article is titled Why doctors are uniquely vulnerable to domestic abuse.

It features Dr Ellen Welch, DAUK co-chair, and Dr Sarah Jacques, DAUK GP co-lead, and their work highlighting the ‘silent pandemic’ facing NHS workers.

NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day

Dr Welch and Dr Jacques are also campaigns co-leads for the Medical Women’s Federation. They are co-ordinators of NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day, which took place for the first time in December.

The article includes the real-life stories of NHS workers who have experienced abusive relationships. It also highlights the research and work being done on the issue.

Read the article in full in this week’s BMJ or on the BMJ website.

Find out more about NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day

DAUK committee members are all volunteers. They campaign and speak in the media about issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.

NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day

White Ribbon Day marks 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. They finish on 10 December when NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day takes place. NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day also has the support of NHS Practitioner Health, Doctors in Distress, Surviving in Scrubs, BRIGHT (Bristol Research on the Intersection of Gender, Health, and Trauma), IRISi Intervention, Cameron Fund, Cavell, the Healthcare Leadership Academy, and the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. Dr Ellen Welch, DAUK co-chair, MWF campaigns co-lead and an organiser of NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day, said: “NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day is gathering momentum and we’re grateful for the support from so many organisations. “We’ve also had a lot of support for the campaign from male allies including Dr Zaid Al-Najjar, medical director of NHS Practitioner Health, Dr Adrian Boyle, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, and Professor Gene Feder, professor of Primary Care at the University of Bristol.

Domestic abuse

“We need the support of everyone in the NHS to ensure that our colleagues experiencing domestic abuse are seen, heard, and supported, and to bring about lasting change.” The day is also generating media interest with Doctors.Net.UK the latest publication to feature it. The Doctors.Net.UK report includes figures from the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund, which has seen a ‘significant’ increase in doctors seeking help for domestic abuse over the past five years. Domestic abuse now accounts for 6% of the charity’s total caseload. The report also features the story of Elina, 35, a registrar and international medical graduate, who experienced abuse in a relationship for a year. Media News articles have also featured in Morning Star, Management in Practice, and the Carlisle and North Cumbria News and Star. Dr Sarah Jacques is DAUK GP co-lead, MWF campaigns co-lead and an organiser of NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day. She said: “This campaign will be deeply personal to a lot of NHS staff. “NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day is our commitment to creating a culture where people feel safe to come forward, are met with compassion, and can access support when they need it most.” NHS staff and patients can get involved on the day by wearing white ribbons, the global symbol of the movement to end men’s violence against women and girls.

#NHSDAAD

They can also post on social media using the hashtag #NHSDAAD. Read more about NHS Domestic Awareness Day, and access NHS Domestic Abuse Day resources for healthcare professionals and organisations. DAUK committee members are volunteers and campaign about issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.

Help for staff members experiencing Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse impacts all aspects of an individuals life, including their work, and healthcare professionals in particular face unique barriers around seeking help. All NHS staff working in the UK should have support available to them at work. In 2023 NHS England joined the Employers Initiative on Domestic Abuse pledging to change workplace cultures around DA. Key recommendations are that NHS employers should have:

• a domestic abuse policy for staff as well as patients
• a trained designated point of contact for DA

Hestia’s Respond to Abuse Advice Line is a free resource for employers. Employers can call 020 3879 3695 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or email adviceline.eb@hestia.org for support, guidance or information about domestic abuse and how to support employees and colleagues experiencing domestic abuse.

The Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse website provides resources to support employers including an employers’ toolkit.

Support someone you know

If you are worried that a friend, neighbour or loved one is a victim of domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free and confidential advice, 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.


Domestic abuse advisers will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and advice on the options available to you helping you to keep safe and make informed choices.  #YouAreNotalone 

If you believe there is an immediate risk of harm to someone, or it is an emergency, you should always call 999.

If someone confides in you, there is more information on how to support a friend or colleague who is being abused.

Further guidance

• BMA report (2024) Domestic abuse in the health profession report
• Employers’ initiative on domestic abuse
• NHS Employers (2022) Supporting NHS staff with domestic violence and abuse (for organisations developing DA policy)
• A guide to meaningful survivor engagement – Women’s Aid
• White Ribbon training resources

Domestic abuse resources for clinical staff

• For Doctors
  • IRISi interventions provides specialist domestic violence and abuse training for General Practices and sexual health clinicians
  • Medical Women’s International Association Interactive Violence Manual
  • BMA Board of Science (2024) Domestic Abuse report
  • RCGP Safeguarding Toolkit
  • RCGP guidance on documenting DA in the electronic clinical record (2021)
• For Nurses
  • RCN Domestic abuse assessment tools and guidance (members only)
  • Guidance for nurses and midwives to support those affected by domestic abuse
  • Marac toolkit for health visitors, school nurses and community midwives
• General Resources and clinical guidance
  
  • Safe Lives resources for professionals
  • Red Whale pearl: Domestic abuse
  • elfh Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) learning
  • Cancer and domestic abuse: a toolkit for professionals
  • Standing together against domestic abuse
  • Guidelines for clinical management of non-fatal strangulation in acute and emergency care services