New study to examine domestic abuse faced by UK nursing workforce  

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Foundation is funding a study to explore experiences of domestic abuse and the support needed by UK nursing and midwifery professionals.  

According to the RCN Foundation, nurses, midwives, and healthcare support workers are more likely to experience domestic abuse than the wider population, although there is little data and research to understand why this is.  

How will the research work? 

The RCN Foundation has funded independent researcher and domestic and sexual abuse specialist, Dr Alison Gregory, to complete the Nursing and Midwifery professionals’ Experiences of Domestic abuse (NAMED) study to research the experiences and specific support needs of nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers in the UK.  

Related Article: School nurses urge government to outlaw physical punishment of children

The data will be collected via an online survey which will include questions about respondents’ experience and the support options offered to them.  

The RCN Foundation is currently seeking participation from nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers to complete the survey.  

Dr Gregory said she was ‘saddened’ that any victim of domestic abuse was unable to get the care they need.  

‘For this to be a nurse, midwife or healthcare support worker who provides such valuable care and compassion for others, is heartbreaking. This must change,’ she added.  

‘The first step is to really listen to people; to hear about their experiences and to find out the things that will genuinely make all the difference.’ 

At RCN Congress this month, speakers urged nurses to do more to champion men’s mental health and flag male patients to domestic abuse and suicide support services. 

Related Article: More work needed to ‘push forward’ men’s health and wellbeing agenda 

In January, the nursing charity Cavell reported a rise in numbers of nursing and midwifery staff seeking support related to domestic abuse. 

How common is domestic abuse in the UK? 

Over two million people experience domestic abuse in the UK each year, with one in four women and one in seven men experiencing this during their life, the RCN Foundation warned.

Based on current research, the charity believes nearly 90% of survivors working in healthcare say they experience barriers when seeking help at work. 

This can be because the available support isn’t widely publicised or is limited to short-term practical help.  

Related Article: Women’s health strategy: Where are we now?

At the same time, health and social care professionals regularly support patients to identify and respond to domestic abuse, and refer patients to appropriate protection services.  

Deepa Korea, RCN Foundation Director said: ‘This is a vital piece of research that I hope will make a fundamental change – not only to nursing and midwifery professionals experiencing domestic violence, but also to the discourse and research surrounding this topic.’