Early referral to a sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) is vital for victims of sexual violence to ensure that they receive appropriate care, but also if forensic evidence needs to be collected, a team from the SATU in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital has said.

Currently in Ireland, there are six SATUs, which are ‘strategically placed nationally to provide a unified continuum of care' to victims of a recent rape or sexual assault.

"These SATUs ensure that standardised responsive care is available for men and women over the age of 14 years, within three hours drive from any location in Ireland," the team explained.

The units are located in Dublin, Mullingar, Galway, Waterford, Cork and Donegal. There is also an out-of-hours service available at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.

The team noted that under-reporting of sexual violence is still a major issue, with just one in three victims reporting the crime to a formal authority.

They said that the impact of not reporting the crime differs from person to person, but can include ‘both physical and psychosocial difficulties'. Long-term effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, can have a big impact on the victim and their family.

"There is also the wider impact on society. If the perpetrator is not held to account for their crime, they may reoffend repeatedly," the team pointed out.

Victims who attend a SATU have two options - to report the crime, or not report it but still receive a health check. However, most people who attend SATUs - some 80% - do report the crime.

Forensic clinical examinations are carried out up to seven days after the assault. After this, the person will be examined and follow-up-care offered, but forensic evidence will not be collected.

The team emphasised that ‘those who opt not to report the crime to the Gardai are offered the same full range of services as those who are reporting the crime, with the exception of the collection of forensic evidence'.

Initial contact with a SATU can be made by the victims themselves, the Gardai, GPs, rape crisis centres or any other agencies on a 24-hour basis. The team noted that the type of care a victim receives following an asssault 'may critically frame their recovery'.

"Early referral to a SATU is crucial and a prompt SATU team response is vital to ensure that the medical, psychological and forensic needs of the person following recent rape or sexual assault are met," they added.

The team made their comments in Forum, the Journal of the Irish College of General Practitioners.

Full contact details for the country's SATUs are available here