Safeguarding focus: female genital mutilation (FGM)

The Department of Health has written to all NHS trusts to warn that the start of the school summer holidays coincides with the weeks also known amongst anti-FGM campaigners as the ‘cutting season’.

This horrific name marks a time of year when many young girls are taken abroad to have FGM performed, in order that they can ‘heal’ over the summer holiday – mainly to avoid detection when they return to school.

A mandatory reporting duty will be imposed soon, which will require a referral to the police every time a confirmed case of FGM is identified in a child under 18 years of age. In the meantime, safeguarding responsibilities remain as before and as for all other forms of child abuse.

The Department have also highlighted a number of resources for staff:

• NSPCC helpline staff have now been trained by FGM health experts so that NHS staff can receive support from a 24/7 team of advisors who can discuss the often complex circumstances surrounding cases of FGM. The helpline number is 0800 028 3550.
• The five e-learning modules are free of charge to all NHS staff via the ‘e-learning for health’ platform and cover a range of issues in relation to FGM at all stages of a girl or woman’s life including: introduction to FGM; adult women both pregnant and non-pregnant;  children and young women;  communication skills for staff  and legal and safeguarding issues. These e-learning modules have been developed by Health Education England and are available at: www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/female-genital-mutilation.
• NHS Choices website - http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/female-genital-mutilation/Pages/Introduction.aspx. 

If you have a patient who you suspect may be at risk of or has suffered FGM, please make a referral using SPOC on 0845 602 6856.

Published 30th July 2015