File photo || Inset: Cllr Mary Howard
A CALL has been made for a dedicated 24-hour Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in the Mid-West, with concerns raised that survivors of rape and sexual assault may have to travel to another region to access specialist care.
The issue was raised by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) at the October meeting of Clare County Council, where she called on the HSE and the Department of Health to fund and deliver a SATU in the region.
Cllr Howard said the care available to survivors should not depend on where they live, highlighting differences between a dedicated SATU and the more limited forensic medical examination service currently available in the Mid-West.
There are six SATUs in Ireland, located in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Mullingar and Waterford.
The specialist units provide forensic examinations, immediate medical care, screening for sexually transmitted infections, health advice and psychological and emotional support.
The Mid-West does not have a dedicated SATU and instead has a forensic medical examination service with limited availability. The service operates overnight on weekdays and around the clock at weekends and public holidays.
Cllr Howard said one significant difference was that a survivor could attend a SATU without first reporting the assault to An Garda Síochána.
She said a person who had recently experienced rape or sexual assault might be frightened, traumatised or unsure whether they wanted to report what had happened.
“They should still be able to have access to these supports,” she said.
Cllr Howard said a SATU provided more comprehensive care than a forensic examination alone.
“This is about treating the whole person,” she said.
She also highlighted the availability of the service, saying the current Mid-West arrangement was not equivalent to a dedicated unit operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Cllr Howard said survivors could face a journey to Cork or Galway to access a SATU, potentially involving a round trip of around 200 kilometres.
She said such a journey could add to the distress experienced by someone who had just been assaulted, particularly where forensic evidence needed to be preserved.
A survivor may be advised not to shower or change their clothes before an examination, she said, adding that travel and delays could create further barriers to accessing care.
Cllr Howard said fewer than 5% of people who experience rape or sexual assault report what happened to them. She also said around 50 people had accessed the Mid-West’s existing forensic service over the previous five years.
She questioned how many people might be unable to access the service because of the barriers involved.
“What about the people that don’t get to access the services?” she asked.
Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF), who seconded the motion, said survivors deserved access to care and compassion.
Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) supported the proposal, describing the absence of a dedicated SATU in the Mid-West as “crazy”.
He said there was a “horrific and shocking need” for the service.
Concluding the discussion, Cllr Howard said every region of Ireland deserved the same standard of care following sexual violence.
“Where you live should never determine the care you receive after rape or sexual assault,” she said.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
