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Forensic healthcare

Forensic Healthcare Practitioner Week

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The UK’s first ever Forensic Healthcare Practitioner Week will be held between 7th-13th November 2022 to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness of forensic healthcare practitioners. During the week the UK Association of Forensic Nurses and Paramedics will share daily stories on it’s website and social media sites. Forensic Healthcare Practitioner Week coincides with the International Association of Forensic Nurses ‘Forensic Nurses Week’. The UK has a wider multidisciplinary approach to forensic healthcare, hence we have chosen a title which reflects that diversity. Forensic healthcare practitioners work at the front door of the Criminal Justice System. Working at an intersection between health, justice and forensics with dual patient and medico-legal responsibility. For Nurses, Midwives and Paramedics, this involves working at an advanced practice level, characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making.

The theme for the UK’s first Forensic Healthcare Practitioner Week is raising awareness of the role. We are asking any Forensic Healthcare Practitioner to share what they enjoy about their role within their network. We are also calling on all those that work with Forensic Healthcare Practitioners in either the Sexual Assault Referral Centres or Police custody either directly or indirectly to share their support.

RCPsych position statement on ‘acute behavioural disturbance’

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This position statement sets out the psychiatric perspective on ‘Acute Behavioural Disturbance’ and the management of people who are severely agitated, distressed and at risk of a physical health emergency outside of mental health settings.

Read ‘Acute behavioural disturbance’ and ‘excited delirium’ (PS02/22) here

Back to the future: The basics in clinical forensic and legal medicine which all clinicians should know

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In the 21st century, many clinicians will interact with aspects of our legal system. Join this meeting to understand the basics of what any clinician should know about clinical forensic and legal medicine, by providing an overview of the diverse ways in which medicine and law interface.

Learn how to write a statement or report for Court and document injury correctly. Also, understand what to do if you are required in the Coroners Court, requested to write a report for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), and what it means when the police officer says: ‘It’s a drink-drive hospital procedure, doctor’.

Participants will:

  • Understand what is required in HM Coroner’s Court 
  • Learn how to document injury correctly 
  • Know what to do when police request the ‘hospital procedure’ 
  • Explain what to do when writing a statement or report for Court 

This webinar is available for on-demand viewing. The webinar recording will be available for registered event participants up to 60 days after the live webinar broadcast via Zoom. The link will be sent 24 hours after the webinar takes place.

UKAFNPConf23 | Seeing the unseen

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Uncover the hidden world of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control at our “Seeing the Unseen” conference! This vital event is designed for healthcare professionals working in forensic healthcare, such as nurses, paramedics and midwives in police custody and sexual assault referral centres. However, we warmly welcome and encourage the participation of all healthcare professionals interested in this crucial topic.

As a healthcare professional, you play a critical role in identifying and responding to domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control. “Seeing the Unseen” aims to enhance your professional curiosity, equipping you with the tools and knowledge to recognise the subtle signs of abuse and coercive control that often go unnoticed.
By attending this conference, you will:

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control, including the latest research and emerging trends.
  • Learn to identify the often-overlooked indicators of abuse and coercive control in patients, allowing you to offer timely intervention and support.
  • Explore best practices for responding to and documenting cases of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control, ensuring appropriate care and referral for affected patients.
  • Network with like-minded healthcare professionals, sharing experiences and insights to enhance your practice.
  • Hear from expert speakers, including survivors and professionals in the field.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to become a champion for the unseen victims of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control. Your expertise and dedication can make a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals suffering in silence.

Join us at  and be a part of the movement to create a safer, more supportive environment for those affected by domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control. Secure your ticket today and take the first step towards transforming your practice and making a lasting impact on your patients’ lives.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

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How is elder abuse defined?

The abuse of older people, often referred to as ‘elder abuse’, is a global public health problem.  The following definition, includes elder abuse in both community and institutional settings:

Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse; financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious loss of dignity and respect.

World Health Organization

The age of an ‘older person’ is not explicitly defined. However, statistics offered by the WHO and the United Nations (UN) typically refer to people aged 60 years and older.

What are the main risk factors?

The World Health Organisation identified risk factors that may increase the potential for abuse of an older person at individual, relationship, community and socio-cultural levels. Examples included:

  • Individual: poor physical and mental health of the victim; mental disorders and alcohol and substance abuse in the abuser; and gender.
  • Relationship: shared living situation; spouse; adult children; abuser dependency on the older person; history of poor family relationships; increase in women entering the workforce meaning caring for older relatives becomes a greater burden.
  • Community: social isolation of caregivers and older persons, due to loss of physical or mental capacity, or loss of friends and family members.
  • Socio-cultural: ageist stereotypes; erosion of generational bonds in a family; systems of inheritance and land rights; migration of young couples; lack of funds to pay for care.

The WHO highlighted that the consequences of abuse can be especially serious for older people. Abuse can lead to long-term psychological problems; convalescence is likely to take longer; and even minor injuries can cause permanent damage or death.

In 2020 a report by Age UK estimated around 180,000 women and 98,000 men aged 60 to 74 were victim-survivors of domestic abuse in England and Wales in 2018/19, based on CSEW data. It went on to note that these statistics were collected before the Covid-19 pandemic, “which will have exacerbated the problems facing older victims”.

What are the signs?

he most common warning signs of elder abuse are strange and sudden changes to an elderly loved one’s mental, physical, or financial well-being. Specific signs of elder abuse vary depending on what type of elder abuse is affecting the victim.

Signs and symptoms of elder abuse can include:

  • Injuries such as bruises, cuts, or broken bones
  • Malnourishment or weight loss
  • Poor hygiene
  • Symptoms of anxiety, depression, or confusion
  • Unexplained transactions or loss of money
  • Withdrawal from family members or friends

Response to NPCC circular 05LL’2021

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The United Kingdom Association of Forensic Nurses and Paramedics (UKAFNP) is aware of a circular published by the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) this week (Circular No: 05LL’2021). You may recall that in 2019 UKAFNP drafted guidelines for nurses and paramedics to complete the assessments of individuals subjected to Conducted Energy Devices (CED), hereafter referred to as a Taser. Following this, a joint Taser Working Group was established with representatives from UKAFNP, Faculty of Forensic Legal Medicine (FFLM), Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, College of Paramedics and the NPCC. In addition, the group included an independent expert in Tasers, a forensic pathologist and an independent Chair.

The above circular, published this week, is in stark contrast with UKAFNP’s understanding of the group’s direction. Hence, we are disappointed to see two member organisations, the FFLM and the NPCC, clearly having been involved in separate discussions and plans outside of the group. We had understood the working group to have wholly agreed to adopt the ‘Full Guideline’ as written by UKAFNP (with some subtle changes). This included a structured, comprehensive approach to training nurses, paramedics and doctors to complete these assessments, assess competency and then ensure continuing competence. Allowing individual forces and forensic healthcare providers to develop training based on a comprehensive syllabus bespoke to the individual needs of their service. Without the need for attending a costly one-off study day, which alone cannot assure competence.

We remain a committed member of the initial Taser Working Group and will continue to engage and hopefully navigate this current situation. We are keen to hear from members and non-members about their reaction to this circular, as well as from;

  • All forensic healthcare providers
  • Police and Crime Commissioners
  • Chief Constables (or their representatives)

Please contact UKAFNP via contact@ukafn.org

The United Kingdom Association of Forensic Nurses and Paramedics

UKAFN Presidential Update | Conference and PPE

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Dear Members,

Firstly I hope you and your families are staying well and safe through these unprecedented times. There are some things I need to update you around the work UKAFN is doing on your behalf and also Conference 2020.

 

Conference 2020

Hopefully, you will have had time to read your most recent edition of The Helix, UKAFN’s newsletter, sent out on April 3rd, so this will not come as a huge surprise.

We have taken the difficult decision to cancel the UKAFN Conference 2020. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but clearly with the current Covid 19 situation planning for the event has become extremely hard.

Given none of us know how long the current lockdown may last or what post lockdown will look like the reality of holding a conference seemed slim, plus getting a commitment from speakers and venues were restricted. So it seemed the most sensible, though the sad option to cancel for this year.

We can only say that we will be back bigger and better in 2021 and will have a date for your diary as soon as possible.

 

Covid 19 and PPE

I’m sure it has not escaped any of us the ongoing issues for healthcare staff and the provision of PPE. Given the importance of PPE in this crisis, and the struggles being witnessed by our steering group members but also being reported back to us by yourselves we felt it remiss not to act.

So last week we wrote formally to the Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, Dame Donna Kinnair, the Chief Executive of the RCN, Tracy Nicholls, Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics and Kate Davies MBE, NHS England raising the issues facing our members and asking for their help in ensuring forensic practitioners are in the consciousness of the Government in relation to PPE.

Following responses and support from all four organisations, today, I have subsequently written to the Rt Hon Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, again voicing our concerns at the struggles being faced by our members in sourcing PPE and I will update you on any responses we receive. You can read the letter below or download a PDF copy.

In the interim please do let us know of any struggles you are facing in these times and we will do our best to raise these at the highest levels.

Please stay safe and well.

Jennie and the UKAFN Board.