The NHS is urging victims of sexual assault to seek support from specialist referral centres, including in Northampton.

Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) provide free access to NHS specialists who can help people access counselling or sexual violence support services and medical care such as emergency contraception. The services are available to everyone.

The centres can also help with testing and assessment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.

The NHS campaign to encourage more people to visit the centres comes as figures show that one in 250 people aged 16 and over experienced rape or attempted rape in the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The NHS is urging more sexual abuse victims to visit centres that provide specialist support. (File picture).

placeholder image — The NHS is urging more sexual abuse victims to visit centres that provide specialist support. (File picture).

Kate Davies, Director of Sexual Assault Services Commissioning at NHS England said: “Our NHS sexual assault referral centres provide specialist care and support to anyone who has been raped or sexually assaulted at any time in their life.

“I’m urging anyone – girls, boys, women, and men – who has been raped or sexually assaulted to contact the NHS for help by searching nhs.uk/sarcs to find their local centre.

“We know that reaching out to get help can be daunting, but NHS specialists are here for you and will care for you in a place that is safe and confidential – they will listen to you and help you think about your options and never tell you what to do.”

The centre in Northampton is located at Serenity at the Highfield Clinical Care Centre in Cliftonville Road.

Anyone can call the centres 24/7 for an appointment or visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/help-after-rape-and-sexual-assault/. The NHS also says there is no need involve the police if the victim wishes not to.