Sexual Assault Treatment Unit for the midlands region

The new €1.5 million Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) for the midlands opened its doors for the first time on Monday last in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. In some positive health-related news, the new unit ends the dreadful situation where distressed sexual assault and rape victims from the midlands region, including those in Tullamore and throughout Offaly, had to travel to Dublin prior to this for essential care and forensic support in the aftermath. Health professionals and the Rape Crisis Network are now hoping the development of the Mullingar-based unit will increase the numbers coming forward to report sex crimes in the region in the future. 'Currently only 8.9% of victims report sexual violence to the Gardai. According to the Sexual Assault and Violence in Ireland 2002 (SAVI) report 2% of women and 285 men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. With the opening of the unit at Mullingar, it is hoped that more people who previously did not report sexual violence will avail of the service,' Mary O"Neill, HSE Project Manager Sexual Health said this week. In total, there will be nearly 30 staff associated with the unit, including eleven doctors and twelve nurses who will work on-call, while there will be three fulltime staff manning the unit comprising of a Forensic Nurse, Clinical Nurse Specialist and a clerical officer. It had been originally anticipated that the unit would open its doors to patients before Christmas however, the HSE said due to operational issues, it was agreed that in the interests of staff and most importantly potential service users, to defer the opening until early 2009. CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Network, Ellen O"Malley-Dunlop described the opening of the SATU in Mullingar this week as very positive news for the region. 'We"re absolutely delighted this unit has come on stream. It will take the pressure off the Rotunda and opens up the possibility of people not having to travel and hopefully encouraging them to come forward. It was a terrible thing to ask people who have experienced this crime to travel to Dublin in the same clothes often very distressed,' she said. Ms O"Malley-Dunlop also expressed the hope that the SATU opening will encourage those who may not have in the past to report it to the Gardai, adding that where forensic evidence is available it makes for a much stronger case. Welcoming the opening of the unit this week Joseph Ruane, HSE Local Health Manager in Longford/Westmeath said: 'We are delighted to open the unit today (Monday). The service will cover the entire midlands. People who wish to avail of the service can either self refer or be referred by the Gardai.' The development of the unit comes as a result of a review of sexual assault treatment services nationally by the Department of Health, back in 2006. The review recommended the establishment of six Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU"s) to be located in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Letterkenny and Galway and another in the midlands region. The Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) gives essential care and forensic support to people who have been the victims of sexual assault and rape. The work done at these units is of prime importance on two fronts, firstly in the provision of sensitive care to assault victims who are often traumatised and deeply distressed, but also in taking the necessary steps to support the victim and the judicial system in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The national helpline for rape and sexual abuse victims is 1800 777788.