Social Welfare Department - Support for Victims of Child Abuse, Spouse / Cohabitant Battering and Sexual Violence



Services on Victim Support

Medical and Health Services

Victims of family violence, sexual violence or child abuse may approach a hospital/clinic in person or by referral from various sources such as the Police, social worker or other medical practitioner, etc. The Hospital Authority (HA) adopts the multi-disciplinary guidelines and approach developed by the Committee on Child Abuse and Working Group on Combating Violence and collaborates with various organizations and agencies to provide holistic care to victims.

Accident & Emergency (A&E) Departments of hospitals are common initial contact points of the victims. When a victim of sexual violence attends A&E Department for emergency medical attention, the A&E Department will as far as possible assign a nursing staff as the contact person for the case. The nursing staff will:

  • assist with arrangement for medical examination or interview of the victim at a place that can ensure privacy; and
  • coordinate and facilitate arrangement within hospital and inter-agency communication.

For victims of sexual violence, A&E Department provides urgent medical services. HA designated clinics will also provide follow up medical services to the victims.

For victims of child abuse, A&E Department provides immediate medical examination and treatment. Victims are recommended to be admitted to the Department of Paediatrics for comprehensive in-patient services such as a more detailed medical examination and continual care. A Medical Coordinator on Child Abuse from the hospital will take care of the victim.

Victims with special needs may be referred to clinical psychologists or psychiatrists for continual care.

Besides medical treatment, hospitals/A&E Department introduce available social services to victims so that they can receive social assistance as soon as possible.

HA website: http://www.ha.org.hk




2003 (C) | Important notices

Last Review Date: 15 December 2011