Victims of sexual abuse are in focus today as the University of Ulster revealed that it has developed new e-learning courses to train health professionals in spotting the tell-tale signs of such abuse.

Dr Tara Moore from the Biomedical Sciences Research Institute (BMSRI), based at Ulster's Coleraine campus, teamed up with the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM) at the Royal College of Physicians in London, and experts in the field to develop the courses called 'Sexual Offences E-Learning'.

Nurses, midwives, health visitors, forensic physicians and family doctors are urged to undertake these courses which are designed as preparatory teaching for health professionals to complete the Society of Apothecaries' Diploma in the Forensic and Clinical Aspects of Sexual Assault (DFCASA) examinations, and forensic physicians for the FFLM's membership exams.

Dr Moore, from Ulster's BMSRI, said: "If we can help professionals in contact with possible victims identify abuse and facilitate victims to go ahead with a successful prosecution, this can prevent a lifetime of abuse of the child and potentially abuse of many others by the assailant."

The initiative has been funded by the Government's Department of Health as part of its response to last year's 'Taskforce on the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women and Children' and will go live online on Friday 1 April.

Public Health Minister Anne Milton gave her backing to the Ulster project and said: "Any form of violence and sexual abuse against women and children is totally unacceptable. The effects can last a lifetime and have a profound impact on the victims, and also their family and friends.

"For many victims, doctors and nurses are the first or only person they can turn to. It's critical that health professionals have the skills to identify victims of abuse and violence and offer appropriate support. We have funded this course to help any frontline healthcare professionals to spot signs of sexual abuse and to know how to respond.

"For some, there may be only one chance to save a life."

The e-learning course - for all health professionals who come into contact with victims of sexual abuse - has been welcomed by Jim Gamble, a former Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).

Mr Gamble, said: "The number of cases of abuse that are reported to the police is woefully low, and of those that reach court, fewer than 6% result in a conviction. The quality of forensic medical care clearly affects decisions to prosecute, and convict.

"Health professionals owe it to their patients to improve their skills in recognising abuse."

(BMcC/GK)