Leaders from across the local health and care system will be meeting next week to explore their approach to tackling domestic abuse in Bath and North East Somerset.
It is thought that approximately 40% of women and 20% of men in the UK have been victims of domestic abuse since the age of 16 and an estimated 5,936 women aged 16-59 have been a victim of domestic abuse across Bath and North East Somerset in the past year alone.
Health services are often the first point of contact for people experiencing this abuse and local leaders will be discussing the important role that these services play in prevention and supporting victims and their families.
Cllr Simon Allen (Lib-Dem, Radstock), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “Domestic abuse is an issue within our communities with both immediate and long term consequences for the person and family.
“The health and wellbeing impacts are wide-reaching and we also know that more needs to be done to improve our understanding, and ensure that people are referred to the right services at the right time to get the care they need.”
The multi-agency discussion will take place on Wednesday 29th January as part of the Health and Wellbeing Board’s meeting; which will explore plans for future spending on health and care services in Bath and North East Somerset.
It will also consider the local strategy for supporting those with autism; ensuring that people get the right diagnosis and can access the services they need when they need them. Representatives at the meeting will include Bath & North East Somerset Council, NHS B&NES Clinical Commissioning Group, Healthwatch B&NES and NHS England.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the 29th January meeting, from 2pm-4.30pm approx, in the Brunswick Room at The Guildhall, Bath.
People are also encouraged to watch the meeting online through a live webcast as well as get involved and pose a related question directly to the Health and Wellbeing Board ahead of the meeting via the Council’s Twitter feed @bathnes account – using the hashtag #HWB.
