Sexual assault victims seeking rape kits at some regional Queensland hospitals are being transferred to a Brisbane hospital up to an hour’s drive away.<\/p>\n
The ABC can reveal victims who present at public hospitals north of Brisbane in Caboolture, Redcliffe and Kilcoy are being transferred to the Royal Brisbane & Women\u2019s Hospital (RBWH) in Herston for forensic examination.<\/p>\n
Sexual assault counselling service Laurel Place said it was aware of both adult and child sexual assault victims being sent from Caboolture to RBWH or Queensland Children\u2019s Hospital for examinations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Executive Director of Laurel Place, Lisa McLean, said victims were also transferred less frequently to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.<\/p>\n
She said Laurel Place was aware “that such delays may result in victims deciding not to proceed with forensic examinations and reporting”.<\/p>\n
“Laurel Place advocates for timely, coordinated and trauma-informed responses for victims following sexual assault,\u201d Ms McLean said.<\/p>\n
“Delays in testing, which place an additional emotional burden on victims at a highly stressful time \u2026 require them not to shower \u2026 and to remain in a hospital environment \u2026 is incongruent with this approach.”<\/p>\n
A spokesperson from Metro North Hospital and Health Service said RBWH “provides the service for our hospitals and has 47 kits in stock [as of 14 August].”<\/p>\n
“Patients are either brought directly to RBWH or transferred if they present at one of our other hospitals,” they said.<\/p>\n
“They have processes for managing clinical supplies and reordering.”<\/p>\n
Sexual assault\u00a0support lines:<\/p>\n
A Queensland Health spokesperson said “patients who are transferred to another hospital are supported in a way that is respectful of their personal preference”.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson said the state’s public hospital and health services have “sufficient supply of forensic medical examination kits, specially-trained staff to perform forensic medical examinations, and telephone access to forensic physicians for advice”.<\/p>\n
“More than 90 per cent of people who present to one of our emergency departments and disclose a sexual assault are accepted into care within 10 minutes,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“There are now more than 880 clinicians statewide trained to deliver forensic medical examinations \u2014 more than double last year.”<\/p>\n
Requirements for seeing victims<\/p>\n
A ministerial directive issued in 2023 by then-health minister Shannon Fentiman mandated most Queensland public hospitals to ensure that sexual assault victims presenting at emergency departments are seen by appropriately trained staff within 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
A press release issued by the minister at the time said this would require 26 public hospitals to “ensure that trained staff are available to administer forensic tests 24-hours a day.”<\/p>\n
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Shannon Fentiman issued the directive when she was in the role of health minister in 2023. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)<\/p>\n
The directive said if an “exceptional circumstance arises where a hospital transfer is required, the Clinical Care Pathway must ensure that the person is supported in a trauma informed way throughout the entire process”.<\/p>\n
It was issued after an alleged teenage rape victim left a hospital without undergoing an examination after waiting three hours and being told there were no trained staff available to perform one.<\/p>\n
Queensland’s Health Minister Tim Nicholls said improving care for sexual assault victims was a priority for the government.<\/p>\n
“We promised a review into the current state of sexual assault care, and we delivered on that promise within 100 days of being elected,” Mr Nicholls said.<\/p>\n
“The Crisafulli government is committed to doing the work and more will be done.”<\/p>\n
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Mr Nicholls says improved care for sexual assault victims was a government priority.\u00a0 (ABC News: Chris Gillette)<\/p>\n
Mr Nicholls said, “any person presenting to a Queensland Health facility disclosing sexual assault will be accepted into care and commenced on the most appropriate care pathway”.<\/p>\n
“While care pathways differ to meet local needs, all pathways are underpinned by compassionate and trauma-informed care,” he said.<\/p>\n
Additional stress<\/p>\n
The mother of the alleged rape victim \u2014 a teenager \u2014 whose experience prompted the ministerial directive told the ABC the reports angered her.<\/p>\n
“[Hospitals] are expecting someone who has been traumatised by a sexual assault to \u2026 travel to another hospital to essentially seek what is crucial in not only a criminal sense but a healing one too,” Stephanie* told ABC News.<\/p>\n
“No wonder victims don’t come forward.”<\/p>\n
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Ms Lynch says regional Queensland residents shouldn’t be discriminated against because of where they live. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda)<\/p>\n
The Executive Officer of the Queensland Sexual Assault Network, Angela Lynch, said it seemed there was an uneven hospital response across the state.<\/p>\n
“Some responses have increased, but some rural and regional areas continue to experience significant delay,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Lynch said undertaking rape kits in a “seamless” and “timely” manner is a critical step in responding to both healthcare and justice needs of victim-survivors.<\/p>\n
“Regional victim-survivors should not be discriminated against because of where they live and deserve an appropriate service response.”<\/p>\n
Shadow Health Minister Mark Bailey called on the LNP government to take immediate action to rectify the issue.<\/p>\n
“No rape survivor should be turned away and sent hours down the road for help after such a traumatic crime,” he said.<\/p>\n
“This is a basic failure in care, and victims deserve immediate treatment and support wherever they present.”<\/p>\n
Do you know more?<\/p>\n