A PLACE TO FEEL SAFE

Nicole Wooton-Cane is given exclusive access to NHS centre that helps people recover from sexual assault

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FOR nearly 40 years, Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Manchester has been leading the way in supporting men, women, and children who have been raped or sexually assaulted.

Of the 40 SARCs in the country Saint Mary's is the oldest and busiest, known as a hub for world-leading treatment and research into sexual assault and the trauma that comes with it.

The M.E.N. was granted exclusive access inside this extraordinary facility. Usually, only those who have experienced the unthinkable would ever see the inside. We spoke to the people whose lives have been transformed here and the staff who have helped them.

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Each day starts with the complex process of triaging patients, often racing against time to capture vital DNA samples and administer lifesaving treatment.

"Very often we have too many cases on the logs to see them all in one day," Dr Michelle Carroll, who heads up the centre as joint clinical director, explained.

"So whilst we are very mindful of the fact that when somebody has been has been sexually assaulted they want to be examined as soon as possible, sometimes there are competing priorities."

Often the most urgent cases are those considered 'high-risk' for HIV, for which potentially life-saving treatment must be administered within 72 hours - and the sooner the better.

Equally, for those who have been assaulted within the last 10 days, the team must take into account the risk of any DNA samples provide crucial evidence in any future court case deteriorating which can over time.

"We know clients might be waiting to wash until they've had that forensic examination," Dr Carroll said. "And if we don't get in soon enough we might miss those opportunities. So there's a lot of things to consider when we're triaging."