In the emergency services of France, 539 “violence” referents will be deployed. This June 27, they are trained in the care of victims, often forgotten.
After physical violence, one in four women turns to a health professional as a first resort. But they often suffer from a serious lack of skills in this area. In question: their non-existent or insufficient training. In order to improve the reception of these victims, the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine announced the establishment of referents in the emergency services. This June 27 is the time for the launch of the device. The whole day is devoted to their training, organized by the Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women against Violence and the Fight against Human Trafficking (MIPROF).
“Invisible” victims
The record in terms of monitoring victims of violence is catastrophic in France. Each year, 216,000 women suffer the wrath of their spouse or ex-spouse. Only 16% of them lodge a complaint. The victims of rape or attempted rape are even worse off: they are only 10% to go to the police station. “The victims are invisible because the professionals are not trained, summarizes Gilles Lazimi, general practitioner in Romainville (Seine-Saint-Denis) contacted by Why actor. A third of the women who come to the emergency room have experienced violence. If we are not interested in something other than the somatic signs, we are missing out. “
With the objective of improving this observation, Marisol Touraine launched a plan of 66 million euros over 3 years. In addition to a single number (3919), 539 “violence” referents will be deployed in the emergency services. Their training, announced by circular of November 20, 2013, breaks down into several modules: healthcare professionals will be made aware of historical and epidemiological data, as well as major legal texts. Three thematic films and an associated booklet will make them aware of the mechanisms of violence, its impact on children and the strategies to be adopted.
Support women
Marisol Touraine reminded the referents present, their mission will be to “educate and train” the medical team on the topic of violence. In the eyes of Gilles Lazimi, this initiative should stimulate a positive dynamic in the emergency services. “It is important for a person to lead and train their colleagues to take better care of them,” he believes. Because that’s the whole problem at the moment: no continuous path exists for victims of violence. From now on, they can be directed to a specifically trained person. Support will therefore be improved, as will the certificates allowing legal proceedings.
There remains a significant problem: the huge proportion of victims who do not file a complaint. The referent will then have to show delicacy, according to Gilles Lazimi. “Women are not all able to lodge a complaint,” he recalls. We should not force them, but accompany them and talk about psychotrauma. We have to learn to help patients. “
The training of emergency advisers is a good start. It still needs to improve, however, as the pros in town are still not benefiting from it. “Training in the city is imperative,” says Gilles Lazimi. There are very few continuing education seminars. “
.
