Sex assault support is set to expand with extra cash
A SEXUAL assault centre will expand its services thanks to nearly £450,000 funding.
The Archway Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Glasgow will now be able to open until midnight five nights a week.
Additional medical and nursing staff for the centre will also be funded – including round-the-clock access to a nurse.
Trisha McAuley, chairwoman of Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “This decision shows how the health and social care partnership can respond to local priorities.
“Extending opening hours of Archway will help victims of sexual violence receive the support they require and assist the effort to bring perpetrators to justice.”
As the only Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in the whole of Scotland, Archway provides victims of rape and sexual assault with specialist care as part of the sexual offences examination process that sup- ports police investigations. It previously provided a regular out-ofhours service, which stopped due to funding pressures.
Now, thanks to £445,000 from the Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, additional medical and nursing staff will be recruited for the centre, which is currently open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Opening hours will be extended to midnight every day from March 1 next year. The additional funding will ensure an increased provision of female staff linked to the centre with a new role to be created for a nurse who will deliver medical support within a police custody suite.
This will also ensure there is round-the-clock nursing cover for Archway.
The financial boost from Glasgow HSCP is for one year and is intended to provide continuity for Archway ahead of further direction from the Scottish Government on how forensic services for victims of sexual assault are to be delivered across the country.
The work of Archway will now also be incorporated within a wider review of sexual health services delivered by Glasgow HSCP.
Ms McAuley added: “The additional funding will ensure there is a greater consistency of service and that victims will have improved access to specialist support.
“Archway is widely recognised as providing an excellent service and the additional funding will improve access to the service in the coming months.”
The service will now receive a budget of more than £1.1 million for 2018/19, with money drawn from a range of partners including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership.