Having been a General Practitioner now for over 25 years, it saddens me to hear of the NSW government’s decisions relating to specialist women’s services. I am here representing over 600 members of the Central Sydney GP Network, an organisation of local GPs in the Central Sydney area.
We have seen, through the years, evidence of the amazing work that has been carried out by these women’s services on the frontline of treating women with mental ill-health, addictions, abuse and complex trauma. GPs value the expertise that these women bring to our patients.
We have seen, firsthand, how the workers have made the lives of our patients livable by being with them on the journey to recovery. They need to continue to provide the personalised co-ordinated care that exists in women-only refuges. For some women particularly, who have been through complex trauma and abuse, it is not an option for them to be housed with men. It is difficult for those of us who live with our families and loved ones to fathom the amount of trauma and abuse which occurs within the home, but believe me, it happens.
I have personally treated many women in their teens and older women who have left this situation, to be given a second chance at living a normal life. These women and children deserve to have a dedicated service which understands their personal circumstances. When I told my patient yesterday (who is a survivor of child sexual abuse) that this was happening, she said that it was appalling. She said she would not be where she is today without the help of Stepping Out – one of the local services.
This was more than a housing program, because those women working in this project had provided her with a safe environment exclusive for women, helped her recover her mental health, assisted her eventually to put the pieces of her life together to enable her to work part time and eventually live independently. There are many stories of women in situations like this. The options for them will be limited and untenable should these refuges be closed. Where would they go?
Hospitals are only short-term places for women who have these complex trauma experiences and, time and time again, it has been proven that the women concerned benefit from being housed in safe environments with dedicated specialist staff.
What would it mean for GPs if these services were closed? We would have to deal with more women and children in crisis without a referral pathway for safe housing and the co-ordinated care which these specialised services provide so well. The expertise of their workers would also be lost should these refuges close – a tragic consequence for our community.
I would sincerely urge the NSW government to consider keeping these specialised women’s services open.
