June 25, 2013 2.40 pm This story is over 129 months old

Lincoln sexual assault centre helped 319 victims in first 3 years

Strong support: A sexual assault and rape centre in Lincoln has helped hundreds of victims to recover from their experiences.

An NHS centre in the Lincoln area for rape and sexual assault victims has helped 319 people in its first three years.

As well as the hundreds helped at the centre, Spring Lodge has also given hundreds more help and advice through other means.

Funded by NHS and Lincolnshire Police, the centre and its specialist team work with a variety of agencies to provide victims with individual help and support.

The centre’s work ranges from medical support to specialist emotional support.

Spring Lodge manager Amanda Farquhar said: “We have seen how having a dedicated centre for the area working alongside a specialist police team has helped people receive a committed response to what has happened to them.

“We want to encourage those people suffering in silence to come forward and talk to us.”

Due to its work within the city, Spring Lodge is also a finalist at the Care Integration Awards 2013, run by medical publications Health Service Journal and Nursing Times.

The awards aim to demonstrate and reward hard work across healthcare, specifically those providing flexible, efficient and responsive services for patients.

Dr Julie Hall, Lincolnshire NHS Foundation Trust director of nursing and operations, added: “We are very proud of the team for being nominated for this award.

“We congratulate them on their hard work and dedication to helping the people who come into their care.

“Regardless of whether they win the award or not, it is celebration enough to know that our staff have made a real difference to people’s lives.”