Manchester's specialist sexual assault centre moves into new state-of-the-art clinic

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Manchester's specialist sexual assault centre has officially opened in a brand new state-of-the-art clinic. Saint Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) is renowned for nearly 40 years' experience supporting victims of rape and sexual assault.

The iconic centre was the first sexual assault referral centre (SARC) to open in the UK in 1986, at the old Saint Mary’s Hospital, on Oxford Road, and is the only one in the country to offer a combination of support, counselling and forensic medical examination to victims of sexual violence, of any age or gender.

Now, the centre is celebrating a new milestone after moving into a brand new clinic in the Peter Mount Building on Manchester University NHS Trust’s Oxford Road Campus. READ MORE: In a quiet building tucked behind Oxford Road, they come to escape the unthinkable Dozens of guests, including representatives from the police, Crown Prosecution Service and social care were given a tour of the brand new suites and services at an official opening on March 20.

Opening the unit, Diane Hawkins JP LLB, The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, said the new premises 'offer the best environment possible for clients'. “Sadly, the need for this service is ever increasing with the team here providing more than 1000 forensic medical examinations last year," she continued. “Along with increasing referrals to the counselling service and requests for support from the Independent Sexual Advisor Team, it shows how vital this service is and how important the skilled and compassionate people who work here are.” Mark Cubbon, Group Chief Executive Officer of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said the clinic had been described as a 'gold standard' in providing care for victims