NHS England Chief Executive visits The Haven Camberwell
12 March 2025 - The visit comes as the number of people referred for specialist support following rape or sexual assault is on the rise
On 7 March, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard met with staff at the Haven Camberwell to find out more about the vital care and support they provide to people who have been raped or sexually assaulted.
During the visit, Amanda was given a tour of the site and had discussions with a range of staff about how they work together to deliver a comprehensive, person-centred service for adults, children and young people. She also heard about the partnership working The Haven undertakes with charity and voluntary community sector organisations. Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust joined these discussions. The visit concluded after Amanda met with a survivor to hear about their experiences of the service.
The visit marked International Women’s Day and was intended to highlight an increase in referrals to sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) by nearly 18% in the last two years, as suggested by national NHS data.
The data shows that SARCs received over 26,000 referrals last year (26,374, January to December 2024), compared to 22,407 referrals in 2022. It also indicates that 61% of all service users last year were under the age of 25, with around 7,000 referrals (27%) being made for children under the age of 15.
The rise follows national campaigns by the NHS to ensure more survivors are aware of the vital medical, practical and emotional support available, and to raise awareness of the roll-out of sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) among GPs. While more survivors are now accessing support, levels of self-referrals remain low with the majority of referrals (78%) coming via the police, suggesting many survivors may not realise they can seek NHS support without going to the police if they wish.
SARCs provide specialist medical care, forensic medical examinations, and onward referral to psychological support for survivors of sexual assault and abuse and related physical harm, including strangulation. The Haven Camberwell is one of three Havens run by King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust across London.
While the majority of referrals are for women and girls, these services are available for everyone, regardless of age, gender identity and sexuality – everyone can receive the same confidential, specialist support in a place where they will be safe.
Dr Bernadette Butler, Forensic Physician and clinical education and training lead at the Havens, and President of the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, said: “The Havens provide a vitally important service for anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted. Acts of sexual violence can be devastating, and the increase we’ve seen in referrals is evidence that there is greater awareness of sexual assault referral centres and the care which our teams provide.
“This is a positive change because the range of holistic care we provide covers the therapeutic aspects of immediate advice on safety, medical care and crisis support, as well as forensic medical examinations. In addition, there is ongoing care and support from counsellors, psychologists and independent sexual violence advocates or advisors. The Havens are staffed by specially trained professionals, who are committed to providing safe, patient and client-centred care”.
Amanda Pritchard, NHS Chief Executive said: “This is one of those NHS services we all wish didn’t need to exist – but as long as there are people who need the specialist care they provide, we are determined to ensure that they can get it.
“It’s encouraging that thousands more people are now accessing support, but there is still more to do to ensure everyone affected knows of the vital care available. That’s why we’ve been raising awareness of sexual assault referral centres amongst other health professionals, and particularly local GPs, so they can get their patients the help they need, when they need it.
“These centres can be contacted 24/7, and you can stay completely anonymous, and not involve the police, if you don’t want to.
“This International Women’s Day, we want every survivor to know that the NHS is here for you and that free and confidential support is available – please seek help from one of our centres by visiting www.nhs.uk/sarcs”.