Nurses call for sex assault report to be implemented

THE Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) has called on Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney to implement recommendations to overhaul the treatment of victims of sexual assault.

The recommendations were drafted last October by a committee made up of stakeholders including the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, as well as the INO, gardaí and Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI).

The document recommended initiatives under seven headings, making provision for the forensic training of nurses to treat sex assault victims and for dedicated waiting rooms in garda stations.