PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Medical Examinations: Sexual Offences (3 June 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making it mandatory to offer forensic medical examinations to victims of sexual assault regardless of whether those victims plan to report that assault to the police.

Asked by:
Dr Rupa Huq (Labour)

The Department has not made an assessment of making an offer of forensic medical examinations to victims of sexual assault mandatory. NHS England commissions Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) that aim to provide the best possible response for victims, ensuring their health needs and overall wellbeing are met. At the SARC, there is an offer of a forensic medical examination, if clinically appropriate to do so, available to all clients.

Answered by:
Dame Jackie Doyle-Price (Conservative)
11 June 2019