PARLIAMENTARY: Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill

RCN Scotland welcomes the Bill which will increase equity of access to healthcare services for people who have been hurt by rape and sexual crime.

Registered nurses currently assist in sexual assault examinations as a corroborating health care professional, if forensically trained. The consistency of this approach is variable across Scotland, but the creation of the HIS Standards and best practice aims to have this rolled out and supported countrywide as it has been positively evaluated.  

Nursing roles in forensic examination consist of trainee ANP, Senior Charge Nurse, Clinical Forensic Nurses, Sexual Assault Nurse Practitioners and Gender Based Violence nurses with a history in sexual health nursing. 

Work is underway to provide accredited education for nurses in Scotland so that they can demonstrate the competencies and academic rigour underpinning advanced forensic practice and the potential ability to give skilled witness in Scottish Courts.

If you have any comments or would like to find out more information then please contact the RCN Scotland Policy team by emailing them at policyscotland@rcn.org.uk or by filling in the attached feedback form and sending it to Policy, RCN Scotland, 42 South Oswald Road, Edinburgh, EH9 2HH