New NICE guidance has recommended that doctors and nurses should receive training so they can recognise signs of domestic violence and abuse.
It is the first major review to have taken into account all the evidence around domestic violence, and has set out recommendations for training to help identify, prevent and reduce domestic violence. It has recommended that GP practices commission integrated training and referral pathways for domestic violence and abuse for clinicians and administrative staff.
Gene Feder, professor of primary healthcare at the University of Bristol and chair of the group that developed the guidance, said: 'This guidance recommends training so that doctors and nurses have the confidence to be able to ask about abuse and offer referral to support services.'
The full guidance can be found at: http://www.nice.org.u/a>