Domestic Violence Quick Reference Guide

The Health Promotion Department of the Health Service Executive Dublin/North East and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through the Eastern Regional Planning Committee on Violence Against Women, have jointly commissioned this education resource on domestic violence for General Practitioners (GPs) and Practice Nurses (PNs). The resource is the first of its kind in Ireland and it represents a practical outcome of partnership working and a tangible reflection of integrated cross-government intent to improve service provision for those who experience domestic violence.
General Practitioners (GPs) and Practice Nurses (PNs) have an important role to play in domestic violence services, not only because they deal with injuries and illness caused by domestic violence in their daily work, but also because they are often a woman's first or only contact with a professional who could provide a lifeline to safety. A full-time GP is likely to see one to two female patients each week who have experienced domestic violence.