FAQ - Accessing healthcare appointments as a survivor of sexual trauma
What is meant by the term sexual trauma?
Sexual trauma is experienced when someone either touches another person in a sexual manner without consent or makes another person touch them in a sexual manner without consent.
How might survivors of sexual trauma find some healthcare appointments more challenging?
Often when survivors of sexual assault visit a medical professional, memories can surface due to the type of examination and the lack of control the person might feel. This can be so difficult that many actively avoid seeking medical attention, putting their health at risk.
We recently surveyed or interviewed 67 people about how their experience of sexual trauma affected them when they needed medical care. You can find this report HERE if you want to read it. Missing out on medical care creates risks for your health and wellbeing. We want to make it easier for people to be able to access the health care they need. This post gives some ideas to think about what might help you. We quote people who responded to our survey saying what has helped them and what would make it easier for them to attend appointments.
“At the moment I don’t know what I can ask for or what would be allowed to help during appointments.”
Do I have to disclose to a health professional that I've experienced sexual trauma?
No, it is always your choice to decide whether to disclose to a health professional that you have experienced sexual trauma.
“I don’t want to have to disclose my worst ever experience just to be treated with respect or to be given the time I need to make the decision on my own.”
However choosing to do so can help the person delivering your care to make adjustments that can make you feel more comfortable.
If I choose to disclose, how can I make it easier?
Whether to share with someone that you have experienced sexual trauma is your decision - if, how, when, to whom and how much you disclose. You do not need to give details.
A way to do this that can feel less daunting is by using one of the Survivor’s Trust #CheckWithMeFirst cards. These can be handed to staff in a health service as a way of indicating that you may need some additional consideration without you actually having to say anything out loud. There is a card with space to add your requests about what might help you.
There is a version of these which mentions sexual trauma and one which is unbranded and just refers to trauma. Here is an example of how these cards may help:
“I had come prepared with one of the Survivors Trust #CheckWithMeFirst cards filled in with details on how I would be feeling and what might help. I gave it to one of the nurses before my appointment … They read it and thanked me for sharing it. They checked in with me about who would be in the room …. They talked me through the process. They reminded me that I could stop if I wanted to and they followed all my requests on the form - this included little things like using soft tones of voice, making sure I could see their faces. They suggested I might want to leave my dress on under the hospital gown. Mainly it was their tone that helped and knowing that I'd been heard and respected. I've been to the same clinic before and they were nice but this time because I'd shared my needs it felt different, better. They didn't make me feel 10/10 at ease but no one could in that situation given my history, but they did everything they could have done and everything I asked.”
What can be done to make my healthcare appointment more comfortable?
There are a number of adjustments you could request in advance of and during your appointment to help you feel more comfortable. These include:
Asking for staff of a specific gender
‘Being able to choose the gender of healthcare professional who will see/treat you’ was the most commonly chosen option in our survey for what would help. This can be difficult to do once you are at your appointment when it might involve waiting longer to be seen but if you ask in advance, health services should do their best to make this possible.
“I do not feel comfortable attending appointments where a male doctor is present”
Being asked for consent at all stages of a procedure or examination
This was very important to the people who replied to our survey. It might be something you might want to add to your requests.
“Explain everything. Show equipment and check for consent for every aspect. Treat with respect and dignity.”
“I think meaningful consent is important, e.g. asking and waiting for someone to say they are ready rather than just ‘informing’ someone of an action and immediately doing it (which is still better than not communicating!) I appreciate this may be hard with NHS pressures, but it would be really reassuring to be able to ask for this for certain procedures.”
“At the moment I don’t know what I can ask for or what would be allowed to help during appointments.”
Longer appointments
Lots of our respondents felt this would be helpful giving the health staff more time to explain things and taking some of the pressure off them to consent quickly.
Taking a trusted person with you
If you have someone you trust who you would like to attend the appointment with you, please tell the service that this will make it easier for you to attend.
“I would never attend an appointment on my own. Most hospitals will allow someone to attend with me when asked.”
A member of staff as a chaperone
You may not have anyone you know who can come with you. If this is the case, you might want to think about having another healthcare professional present as a chaperone. It was the least popular option in our survey but would still improve the experience for almost a quarter of respondents.
“I actually find being alone with one person more difficult”
Support for other needs
You may also require additional support for other needs, for example if you have a disability, mobility issue or speak another language. We will be doing another article shortly about the support you can expect from services for such other needs. If these needs are catered for then it can make an appointment a more comfortable experience.
What can I do if I've had a bad experience of a healthcare procedure?
If you are a survivor of sexual trauma and you have had a bad experience during a healthcare procedure there are steps you can take both for yourself and to improve things for others in the future:
- Don't blame yourself - whether or not you disclosed your trauma you should still be treated with care and dignity;
- Reach out for support - there are organisations who provide support to survivors of sexual trauma;
- If you feel able, tell us your experience so that we can help improve services for others in the future. Contact us or submit your story via our have your say form.
- You can make a formal complaint - there are independent complaints advocates who can support you through this process.
Where can I find support if I am a survivor of sexual trauma?
The following services offer support and advice to people who have experienced sexual trauma:
- Rape Crisis England and Wales - 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line
- Galop - National Helpline for LGBT+ Victims and Survivors of Abuse or Violence
- The Survivors Trust - Helpline
- RASA Merseyside
- Survivor's UK - National Male Survivors Online Helpline
- The Maggie Oliver Foundation: https://www.themaggieoliverfoundation.com
The Eve Appeal and The Survivors Trust have produced a guide for survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse and a guide for professionals about cervical screening. They can both be found here: https://eveappeal.org.uk/supporting-you/cervical-screening-for-survivors-of-sexual-violence/
