In a sweeping move aimed at transforming the way England’s health system responds to domestic abuse and sexual violence, the UK government has unveiled a raft of new initiatives designed to bolster support for victims and survivors. Announced on December 17, 2025, these measures are part of the government’s forthcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, which officials say will mark the largest crackdown on violence against women and girls in British history.
At the heart of the new approach is the Steps to Safety initiative, a nationwide effort that will see general practice staff across England receive specialized training to better identify and respond to cases of domestic abuse and sexual violence. By 2029, every area of England is set to have dedicated NHS referral services for women and children affected by abuse, ending what officials have called the “postcode lottery” that has historically determined the level of support victims can access based on where they live.
“As a service that often has first eyes on abuse victims, the NHS plays a vital role in supporting and treating victims,” Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized in statements reported by the Home Office. “These changes will put victims first, making sure they have specialist care and reliable support when they need it most.”
Under the Steps to Safety plan, patients visiting their GP can be referred directly to specialist domestic abuse and sexual violence services within their local area. To support this, a specialist support worker will be made available across groups of general practices, assisting staff and ensuring victims and survivors are promptly connected to appropriate local resources. Training for GP practice staff will be rolled out in all regions, with the goal of equipping healthcare professionals—who already encounter many survivors during routine appointments—with the skills and confidence to intervene effectively.
The government’s announcement comes against a sobering backdrop: in the last year alone, government figures show that one in eight women in England and Wales was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking. The Home Office also cited research indicating that healthcare professionals are three times more likely to experience domestic abuse themselves compared to the general UK population. On December 10, 2025, the first national awareness day highlighting domestic abuse among NHS staff was launched, signaling an increased focus on the wellbeing of the health workforce as well.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, was blunt in her assessment: “For too long, these crimes have been considered a fact of life. That’s not good enough. This government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency. We will halve it in a decade.”
In a significant expansion of support for younger victims, the government is also investing up to £50 million to roll out the Child House model across all NHS regions in England. Currently, only one such facility—the Lighthouse in North London—exists. The Child House model is a multi-agency, trauma-informed approach that brings together police, forensics, therapy, and advocacy services under one roof, all designed around the child’s needs and staffed by professionals trained in trauma care.
This expansion is particularly meaningful for survivors of child sexual abuse, who will now have access to specialist, wrap-around support in their own communities. The Child House model ensures that children only have to share their experiences once, rather than reliving their trauma through repeated interviews with different agencies. Services include therapeutic support, advocacy, and ongoing care that continues well beyond the initial intervention—a crucial step for long-term recovery.
Chris Sherwood, CEO of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), welcomed the move as “a momentous day for child victims and survivors of sexual abuse.” He added, “Specialist support can be life-changing for children, but we know many are currently unable to access the services they need in their communities. That’s why we strongly welcome the government’s commitment to significantly invest in Child Houses—which provide access to police, forensics, therapy, and advocacy in one place. All children deserve lifesaving, wrap-around support to help them rebuild their lives after sexual abuse.”
Gabrielle Shaw, Chief Executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), echoed this sentiment, describing the government’s package as “landmark.” Shaw explained, “It reflects what survivors have long called for—access and care that doesn’t depend on your postcode. Steps to Safety could be transformative, helping GPs to spot abuse sooner and connect women and girls to specialist support quickly, wherever they live. The expansion of the Child House model is also especially powerful.”
The government’s VAWG Strategy is not limited to healthcare interventions. It also includes plans to challenge misogyny and promote healthy relationships, put specialist rape and sexual assault teams in every police force, and apprehend abusers more effectively. The government has invested £550 million in the Victims Support Fund and recently launched Raneem’s Law, which embeds domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms—a move that has already protected more than 1,000 victims through Domestic Abuse Protection Orders since their rollout last year. An additional £20 million has been allocated this financial year to specialist organizations providing vital support to victims.
For healthcare professionals, the new measures are a recognition of the unique position they occupy in the fight against domestic abuse and sexual violence. As Wes Streeting put it, “Victims and survivors of abuse need more than promises—they need change. No child should also face their darkest moment alone or be forced to relive their trauma repeatedly to multiple professionals.”
The expansion of the Child House model also fulfills recommendation 16 from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which called for better support for victims. The government’s goal is to ensure that children and young people nationwide can access a high standard of care and support, regardless of where they live.
As the VAWG Strategy is formally launched later this week, advocates and officials alike are watching closely to see how these ambitious plans translate into real-world change. The stakes, as the numbers show, could not be higher. Around 3.8 million people aged 16 and over experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year to March 2025, according to government figures. For the many women, children, and healthcare professionals affected, the hope is that this comprehensive approach marks the beginning of a new era—one where support is accessible, trauma is met with compassion, and the cycle of violence is finally broken.