An average family doctor is seeing up to two female patients a week who have suffered domestic violence.
But a conference of GPs has been told a woman may endure 35 violent attacks before telling the gardai.
The revelations emerged as the first guide for family doctors on how to deal with patients suffering domestic violence was launched by the Irish College of General Practitioners at a women’s health conference over the weekend.
Dr Nazih Eldin, a health promotion expert, said GPs and practice nurses have a crucial role to play in domestic violence services, not just because they deal with injuries and illness but also they are often a woman’s first and only contact with a professional “who could provide a lifeline to safety”.
The guide drawn up by GPs Naoimh Kenny and Ailis Ni Riain warns that doctors should be aware that violence between adult partners occurs in all social classes, ethnic groups and age groups. Men can also be victims.
One woman a month has been killed here since 1995; 63pc of them died at home.
The need for GPs to be more alert to the problem is underlined by a survey showing one in five women were abused by a partner but just 12pc reported they were asked by their doctor about violence.
“Of the women who had been injured by their partner, only 20pc of them reported that their doctor has asked about violence.”
The guide acknowledges the complexity of the problem and points to myths they need to abandon such as “nobody has the right to interfere in domestic affairs”, or “it’s just the odd domestic tiff“. It advises doctors on the supportive questions to ask when a patient discloses violence and points out they should not ask why she is staying with that partner, why she was hit or query why she does not leave him.
GPs should use their experience to initiative questions if they see signs of injury, verbal clues or behaviour where a partner always insists on accompanying the woman to the surgery.
If children are involved, a GP has a mandate to make an official complaint to authorities.
The doctors advised: “Women experiencing violence do not always want to leave but do want the violence to end. You will need to assess her readiness to change her situation through conversation and experience.”
It also stresses the importance of confidentiality and suggests they photograph any injuries preferably with a polaroid camera but ensuring the film is never sent out for external printing.
It also contains clever “nudging” strategies a doctor can employ in situations where women are reluctant to change.
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