Victims of sexual assault can continue to receive first class treatment and care at The Saint Mary’s Centre in Manchester, after a move to new state-of-the-art premises.
The iconic centre was the first sexual assault referral centre (SARC) to open in the UK in 1986, at the old Saint Mary’s Hospital, on Oxford Road. It set the standard for all similar centres to follow and has strived to provide the best care possible to victims of sexual violence ever since.
The centre is now celebrating a new milestone in being relocated to Peter Mount Building on Manchester University NHS Trust’s Oxford Road Campus, with brand new suites and technology.
It is the only one in the country to offer a combination of support, counselling and forensic medical examination to victims of sexual violence, of any age or gender.
Dozens of distinguished guests, including representatives from the police, Crown Prosecution Service and social care were given a tour of the updated suites and services on March 20, 2024, after a plaque was unveiled
Mrs Diane Hawkins JP LLB, The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, gave a speech as she officially opened the new unit and said:
“These new premises offer the best environment possible for clients. The team have obviously considered all elements of care when planning the centre, thinking about the clients they see at every step of the way.
“Sadly, the need for this service is ever increasing with the team here providing more than 1000 forensic medical examinations last year.
“Along with increasing referrals to the counselling service and requests for support from the Independent Sexual Advisor Team, it shows how vital this service is and how important the skilled and compassionate people who work here are.”
