Representatives from a range of healthcare organisations took part in discussions on child protection today, at a seminar held by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
The two-day seminar, will help the Inquiry understand the extent to which current practices protect children from being sexually abused and consider ways to ensure that children are better protected from sexual abuse in the future.
Organisations including NHS England, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Public Health Wales and the Royal College of Nursing were represented at the seminar.
Participants discussed, among other topics, the lack of data on the prevalence of child sexual abuse within a healthcare setting, the vetting of hospital volunteers, children being placed in adult healthcare settings and whether security on hospital wards could be improved. There were also observations from the public gallery.
Professor Alexis Jay, Chair of the Inquiry, said: “We were pleased to listen to the interesting discussions around the prevention of sexual abuse in healthcare settings. We will take account of all of today’s views as we formulate recommendations to ensure children are better protected from sexual abuse in the future.”
The seminar will continue on Wednesday 27 September at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, 70 Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 1EU. It will also be live streamed and can be watched via this link: www.iicsa.org.uk/live
The Inquiry also invites individual victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to consider sharing their experience through the Inquiry's Truth Project.