‘Completely unacceptable’ that Tipperary sexual assault victims forced to travel to Cork for treatment
There have been calls to end a “completely unacceptable” situation for Tipperary people who have to travel to Cork for care after a sexual assault.
And, amid calls for a follow-up treatment unit in the Mid-West, a local politician has suggested Nenagh as a potential site for a new Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU).
Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O’Meara said that the current system acts as a barrier to victims of sexual assault.
"At the moment, the only service available in the region is a Forensic Medical Examination service in Limerick. This is not the same as a SATU and does not remotely provide the full range of care that victims need,” he said.
"Individuals who attend the current service in Limerick and require follow‑up health checks after an assault must travel to Cork to receive that care. It is totally unacceptable that people must travel for hours for basic care,” he added.
Deputy O’Meara said that to access treatment, victims must first contact the gardaí, who will refer them to the forensic medical examination unit in Limerick, but if there was an SATU in the Mid-West, they could present there for treatment.
"If there were a SATU in the region, people could access care without having to take that step straight away.
"SATUs provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault.
"They provide medical care, support services, and the option to store forensic evidence for up to a year, giving people time to decide what they want to do. That option is not available in this region,” he added.
In a question to the Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Deputy O’Meara asked if there were any plans to add a SATU to the Mid-West region.
The Health Minister stated that there were currently no plans to establish a SATU in Limerick.
Currently, there are six Sexual Assault Treatment Units across the country.
The Fianna Fáil TD posed a further parliamentary question to the Minister, aiming to highlight the “urgency” in setting up a SATU in the region, and suggested that it be placed in Nenagh’s new primary care centre.
"The HSE has now informed me that the relevant stakeholders are actively engaging with the National Clinical Lead for SATUs to review the situation and determine the next steps required to progress the establishment of a SATU in the region,” he said.
"This is welcome, essential and must be a matter of priority. The HSE Mid-West region is the only HSE region in the country without a fully functioning SATU.
"In response to this, I have also submitted a parliamentary question asking that Nenagh be considered as the location for this service. The new Nenagh Primary Care Centre, which is due to open soon, is a strong and practical option,” Deputy O’Meara said.