A Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) is available in every health board. It is there to help people aged 16 or over disclosing rape or sexual assault. If an assault has occurred in the previous 7 days, a forensic medical examination may be appropriate to collect evidence that could help police investigations. Forensic samples are taken by a trained Sexual Offence Examiner.
Please see the SARCS RefBite 5-minute film for a full description of the service – and how to support our patients, and consider the impact on ourselves as clinicians, too.
People can access SARCS testing and support without police involvement too – see ‘how to refer’ below for further detail. Where the person does not wish police involvement, SARCS will collect certain forensic evidence and keep it for 26 months, in the case of police involvement at a later date. If the police are not contacted, the evidence will be destroyed after 26 months.
The service offers immediate healthcare needs, including STI, BBV and pregnancy testing, emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis (PEPSE), Hepatitis B vaccine and psychological risk assessment. On-going support is offered from the SARCS gender-based violence (GBV) nurse.
Please advise the person to try and avoid washing and not to discard items of clothing worn at the time. If the assault involved the person’s oral cavity, if possible, they should avoid eating, drinking, smoking, chewing gum or brushing teeth prior to being seen. They should try and keep any used toilet paper or sanitary products.
Please see Primary Care Management for additional guidance on other approaches to help and what should not be done prior to referral.
Patients can find out more about SARCS services on NHS Inform: www.nhsinform.scot/sarcs
Time frame
People who are self-referring can access support for their immediate healthcare needs:
- up to 10 days post incident
- and, for a forensic examination within 7 days post incident.
Forensic window for obtaining samples:
Anal 72 hrs
Digital 48 hours
Vaginal 7 days
Oral penetration 24 hours
Skin, licking, biting 48 hours.
Drug Facilitated Assault – encourage person to contact police to arrange toxicology.
Blood – 3days
Urine 5- days
Hair 4-6 weeks.
C.M. & N.S/S.W 12-01-24
Who can refer:
Anyone.
Who to refer:
Persons disclosing rape or sexual assault.
Who not to refer:
SARCS does not offer routine sexual health services: in the absence of disclosure of rape or sexual assault, please signpost people to Chalmers Sexual Health.
For people under 16 years of age, please follow Child Protection Protocols.
How to refer:
Patients can contact Police Scotland or self-refer if they do not wish to contact police. Healthcare professionals can assist with this.
- Police contact – the person can phone 101. A Sexual Offences Liaison Officer (SOLO) will normally arrange and support the person to attend SARCS.
- No police contact – SARCS offers healthcare and support if the person is not ready or unsure whether to go to the police. To self-refer, where NO POLICE CONTACT is preferred, please phone Lothian SARCS at 0800 148 8888
Try to respond to the disclosure in a trauma informed, person centred manner.
Never interrogate the person about the incident.
Consider safety and vulnerability.
Treat any immediate physical or medical conditions requiring attention. Do not undertake any clinically unnecessary pelvic examination.
SARCS (NHS) 0800 148 8888
NHS Inform www.nhsinform.scot/sarcs
Rape Crisis Scotland Helpline 5pm -midnight 08088 010302 www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Police Scotland – Emergency 999 non emergencies 101
Victim Support Scotland 0800 160 1985
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
Childline 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk
Beira’s Place 0131 526 3944 10am-5pm Resources – Beira’s Place (beirasplace.org.uk)
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline 0800 027 1234 www.sdafmh.org.uk
