Working in partnership with Healthwatch Liverpool, Liverpool Women’s Hospital were proud to host a knowledge sharing event on the topic ‘A Trauma-Informed Approach to Healthcare’.
The event was dedicated to understanding and addressing the impact of sexual trauma on patient care. It brought together healthcare professionals from across the city along with organisations that offer sexual abuse and sexual violence support and those with lived experience to explore best practices in trauma-informed healthcare.
The session was opened by Dianne Brown, Director of Nursing at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and Sarah Thwaites, CEO of Healthwatch Liverpool, setting the stage for an engaging and insightful agenda.
Dianne Brown, Director of Nursing said: “Liverpool Women’s Hospital is proud to be working in partnership with Healthwatch Liverpool, the collaboration is vital in ensuring that survivors of sexual trauma feel safe, heard and respected when accessing our services. By embedding trauma-informed principles into our practices we can break down barriers that will encourage early detection and diagnosis and improve outcomes for the women we care for.”
At the event #checkwithmefirst trauma cards were unveiled. The cards are aimed at improving experiences for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual trauma at medical appointments.
Research indicates that experiences of sexual trauma can lead to heightened anxiety and avoidance of medical appointments, particularly those involving intimate examinations. These pocket-sized cards enable patients to discreetly inform healthcare professionals about their trauma history, encouraging more sensitive and accommodating care during healthcare appointments.
Sarah Thwaites, Chief Officer of Healthwatch Liverpool said: “Survivors of sexual trauma have told us how difficult it can be for them to attend health care appointments and what might help make this less traumatic. We were delighted to see so many staff and professionals gather to learn from their experiences. We look forward to seeing the changes that the initiative will make to patients at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, and we hope that one day all health professionals will be ready and able to provide survivors with well-informed, patient-centred care, tailored to individual need.”
Attendees also had the opportunity to engage with other professionals in their field followed by a question and answer panel featuring the day’s key speakers. The event concluded with a commitment to action, led by Lucy Duckworth from The Survivors Trust reinforcing everyone’s shared commitment to trauma-informed care.
Dianne Brown added: “This event was a significant step in ensuring that healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools to provide compassionate, informed care for survivors of sexual trauma.”