A new study hopes to shine a light on the issue of domestic abuse against nurses and midwives.
The study, led by independent researcher Dr Alison Gregory and funded by the RCN Foundation, aims to understand the extent of the problem – and what support staff need.
“It saddens me that anyone experiencing domestic abuse is unable to get the support they so desperately need”
Alison Gregory
According to the RCN Foundation, nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic abuse, compared to the general population.
Deepa Korea, director of the foundation, said that 11% of the hardship grants her organisation issued in 2024 were for staff experiencing domestic violence – and that this figure “rises year on year”.
However, the organisation said the experiences of these survivors were “often ignored”.
It cited existing research that suggested that around 90% of domestic abuse survivors in healthcare felt “barriers” to disclosure and finding help.
Alison Gregory
Dr Gregory said: “It saddens me that anyone experiencing domestic abuse is unable to get the support they so desperately need.
“For this to be a nurse, midwife or healthcare support worker who provides such valuable care and compassion for others, is heartbreaking. This must change.
“The first step is to really listen to people; to hear about their experiences and to find out the things that will genuinely make all the difference.”
The foundation has funded Dr Gregory £50,000 to conduct the study, titled NAMED (Nursing And Midwifery professionals’ Experiences of Domestic abuse).
The reseach will include a survey of nursing staff in the UK, which is now open for responses.
The results will be analysed by the team led by Dr Gregory and inform a set of recommendations to improve the support available for nursing staff experiencing domestic abuse.
Ms Korea added: “This is a vital piece of research that I hope will make a fundamental change – not only to nursing and midwifery professionals experiencing domestic violence, but also to the discourse and research surrounding this topic.”
