Plaid AM Calls For Domestic Abuse Training to Be Rolled Out

Dr Dai Lloyd, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West has called on Swansea Bay University Health Board to roll out training which helps GPs identify signs of Domestic Abuse to practices across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Dr Lloyd will raise the issue with Jane Hutt AM in the plenary session this afternoon (Tuesday 14th May).

The service has been rolled out across the south Wales Police area but not in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, and it has now emerged that South Wales Police receive 93 calls a day, one every 15 minutes regarding domestic abuse.

The training is an award winning project which allows GPs and practice staff to spot the signs of domestic abuse in patients.

Dr Lloyd stated;

“Figures released by South Wales Police showing that they receive a call every 15 minutes about domestic abuse highlight the seriousness of this situation.

Across the force area, Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr and The Vale of Glamorgan have seen their GPs trained in spotting the signs of domestic abuse. GPs in Bridgend will also be receiving this training soon.”

Dr Lloyd has called on Swansea Bay University Health Board and the Welsh Government to ensure the scheme is rolled out in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot;

“I am appealing the Labour Welsh Government to ensure that funding is made available to the health board and to the health board to roll this training out to practices across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

We cannot allow staff to miss out on award winning training that could potentially save lives across south Wales.

We have seen across RCT and Merthyr where training took place in January 2016 that there has been over 500 referrals. How many are being missed in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot?

Dr Lloyd has written to the chief executive of SBUHB, Tracy Myhill regarding the issue.