The experiences of patients who sought help in general practice for domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been revealed in a study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.
The study, published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), compared the views of 21 patients (women, men and children) with the views of 13 healthcare professionals (GPs, practice nurses and allied health professionals).
Overall, the study found that general practice played an important role in supporting patients affected by domestic abuse during the pandemic, although this was against a backdrop of concerns of rising numbers of DVA cases and falling referral of cases. Access to services was further hampered by the imposition of lockdown measures and a shift to remote care.