Supporting IPV Survivors: Building a safe, healing healthcare system

In recognition of Women’s Month, 50 medical interns at Groote Schuur Hospital received specialised training on how to sensitively screen for intimate partner violence (IPV) and administer a rape kit. They join the hundreds of doctors, nurses, clerks, and even cleaners at Groote Schuur and Mitchells Plain Hospitals who have already been trained to provide compassionate, trauma-informed care to survivors of violence.

This is thanks to the ongoing partnership with the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust to make healthcare facilities a safe and supportive entry point for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and IPV.

Launched in 2022, the IPV Intervention Project aims to make early intervention possible through routine screening for IPV, conducted by specially trained nurses. To date, nearly 30,000 women have been screened at Groote Schuur and Mitchells Plain Hospitals.
These routine screenings offer a critical opportunity to identify and support women—many of whom seek medical help long before disclosing any abuse. Early engagement can be the first step toward safety and healing.

The programme takes an integrated approach to care:
•⁠  ⁠Patients are screened using a simple 7-question digital survey.
•⁠  ⁠Those who screen positive are offered immediate onsite counselling or can choose to receive information on how to access help later.
•⁠  ⁠Healthcare workers may also refer suspected cases directly to an on-site GBV social worker.
•⁠  ⁠Referrals are made, where needed, to external services such as the police service, shelters, or legal support.
•⁠  ⁠Follow-up with patients takes place two to three weeks after the initial counselling session.

The initiative also builds capacity within the healthcare system by offering IPV and trauma-informed care training for healthcare workers and running awareness and education campaigns for both staff and patients.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, commended the initiative, saying, “IPV and GBV can have a devastating impact on any woman and her family, and it often feels incredibly isolating. We know that many women turn to healthcare services before they report abuse. That is why our healthcare facilities must be safe harbours for survivors. This programme empowers both our staff and our patients with the tools, knowledge, and community they need to take the first steps out of harmful situations. And it’s already making a difference—more than 1,200 women chose to receive counselling after screening, and 418 were referred to external support partners.”

Following the success of the programme at Groote Schuur and Mitchells Plain Hospitals, the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust is now exploring how to expand the intervention to hospitals across the province. Plans are already under way to launch the programme at Heideveld Community Health Centre later this year.

Kristy Evans, Executive Director of the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust, shared her vision, “Every day, women walk into our hospitals carrying more than illness. Many carry the silent weight of violence. This intervention gives them a moment of safety, of being seen and supported, often for the first time. It has also changed how our healthcare workers respond, with compassion and care. We believe every woman deserves this level of support, wherever she is. We are looking for partners to help us reach more women, in more places.”

Minister Wenger concluded, “The scourge of GBV and IPV can be defeated when we work together—drawing on the strength of partnerships, building awareness, and ensuring every person in the healthcare system knows what to look out for. I am hopeful that this initiative will be expanded to every hospital in our province and am enormously grateful to the Hospital Trust for enabling this important work. Healthcare is not just about treating illness; it’s about healing lives. And hospitals can play a vital role in breaking the cycle of violence.”

Listen to Minister Wenger's comment: 

Media Enquiries
Robyn Thomson 
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness 
Email: robyn.thomson@westerncape.gov.za