Why do we still lack a sexual assault clinic in the mid-west?
Summary
Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O'Mara discusses the urgent need for a dedicated sexual assault treatment unit in Ireland's Midwest, highlighting that the region currently lacks such a facility. He explains how survivors must travel to Cork or Galway for comprehensive care, as the local forensic service is limited in hours and requires immediate police reporting. O'Mara shares data proving significant demand for the service and notes that the HSE has begun a scoping report to address this glaring omission.
Topics discussed
Show intro and guest introduction
Call for dedicated sexual assault clinic in Midwest
Current limitations of forensic medical services
Differences between forensic exams and SATUs
Data on patients traveling to Cork and Galway
Government response and initial HSE denial
Parliamentary questions proving regional demand
Unreported cases and lack of data visibility
Progress, scoping report, and Rape Crisis Centre
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