Recent rape/sexual assault: National guidelines on referral and forensic clinical examination in Ireland.

The purpose of this document is to facilitate all aspects of a responsive and coordinated service for men and women over the age of 14 years who have been raped or sexually assaulted. This is the second edition of the ‘Recent Rape/Sexual Assault: National Guidelines on Referral and Forensic Clinical Examination in Ireland’ and the updates to the various sections emphasise the many positive developments in the service over the past 4 years. The interagency nature of these guidelines will enable consistent provision of high quality care at all stages of the journey, regardless of the circumstances of the assault or the person’s involvement with criminal justice agencies. This document also ensures that clearly defined referral pathways exist, so that men and women can access appropriate individualised care that is responsive to their needs. It is important to highlight that people respond to instances of sexual violence in different ways, and while this document provides guidance for compassionate and effective care it does not represent the only medically or legally acceptable response. There may be circumstances where personal or clinical factors may mandate appropriate deviation from these guidelines. Quick reference pages have been devised in order to enable practitioners to access information quickly. The quick reference pages are: • Pathway options: Recent history Of rape/sexual assault (p. 13) • Referral pathway: To a sexual assault treatment unit (p. 14) • Contact details for SATUs (p. 14) • Guide to help preserve forensic evidence which may be available. (p. 15