New law around the reporting of FGM

New legislation has been brought in this month to better protect women and girls from female genital mutilation (FGM) abuse.

As part of the Serious Crime Act 2015, the law now makes it mandatory for all healthcare professionals to report to the police, either verbally or in writing, if a girl under 18:

• tells you herself that an act of FGM has been carried out on her

OR

• appears to show signs that an act of FGM has been carried out on her (and you have no reason to believe that the act was necessary for her physical or mental health, or for purposes connected with labour or birth).

 

If either criteria is met during your patient contact, then it is your mandatory duty to report it through the single point of contact (SPOC) number on:

0345 602 6856
(0845 prefix before 10th November)

Whilst the new legislation only applies to girls under 18, under safeguarding terms you should still report FGM for those over 18 in the same way.

The Trust’s safeguarding team has produced a comprehensive document to help colleagues better understand what FGM is, why it happens, and the reporting process we follow. You can download a copy here (please be aware you’ll only be able to access the document from a Trust computer – if you need a copy to be emailed to you directly, please contact the team at eoeasnt.eoe-safeguarding@nhs.net).