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Domestic violence and/or abuse: information for patients, families and carers.

 

What do you do if domestic violence and/or abuse is happening to you or someone you know?

What is domestic violence and abuse?

 

One person is shouting and point at another cowering person looking scared

Always being blamed for things.

Person looking down with their face in their hand

Being made to feel stupid.

One person leaning over and punching someone with a black eye and hands up, trying to defend themselves

Being physically hurt.

Someone touching your body and making it hurt.

Two people whispering together looking towards another person looking sad

Being humiliated.

Someone making you feel silly or stupid, and maybe getting other people to laugh at you. 

A person looking down and gesturing with a pointing finger at another person who is looking down with a sad expression

Always being put down.

Saying things to you that make you feel like you are not good enough. 

Person looking shocked at their mobile phone, with one hand on their forehead and the other holding the phone

Nasty phone calls and texts.

Side view of a person sitting on the floor with their elbows on their knees and their head in their hands

Being kept away from family and friends. 

Not letting you see, speak with or message your friends and family. This can make you feel alone and lonely. 

Person with their right fist pulled back in a pre-punch position

Punches and being hit.

Someone touching you hard with an open or closed hand, this may or may not leave a mark on your skin. 

Three people whispering together behind the back of a person holding a folder close to their chest and looking down

Being bullied.

  • Someone making you do something you don't want to.
  • Someone threatening you with words or actions.
  • Someone saying things to hurt your feelings. 
Person wearing a white t-shirt looking to camera using their hand to make an 'L' shape on their forehead

Insults.

Someone saying mean and hurtful things about you, this may be about the way you look, the things you say or do or about the things you like. 

Two people facing each other, one pointing and looking angry, the other is looking down

Threats.

Threatening words or actions with their body.

Two hands holding an empty brown wallet open

Being made to explain how you spend your money of having it taken away. 

Cartoon magazines with 'naked' and xxx pics written on them

Being made to look at things that upset you.

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone

Person with hands up and shouting at a person with their hands over their ears and head turned down

Men can abuse women.

Two people, one leaning forward with hands up and shouting towards a person leaning away

Women can abuse men. 

Person standing with one hand on their hip using the other to point at someone else whose hands pressed flat together

Men can abuse other men.

Two people facing each other, one with their hands up and shouting and the other looking confused

Women can abuse other women. 

What can I do to help?

Share this page with the person and ask them to read it. 

Tell someone you trust.

This can be a family member, friend, health professional, social worker or the police.

Helpful contacts

Moorfields Direct

Our helpline is staffed by knowledgeable ophthalmic nurses from:

  • 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday.
  • 9am to 5pm on Saturdays. 

 

Call 0207 566 2345

Patient advice liaison service (PALS)

Providing confidential advice and support, assistance sorting out any concerns and guiding patients through the different services available.

 

Call 0207 566 2324 or 0207 566 2325 Email PALS

National Domestic Violence (24 hour helpline)

Freephone: 0808 2000 247

www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

 

Women’s Aid (24 hour helpline)

Freephone: 0808 2000 247

www.womensaid.org.uk/

 

ChildLine (24 hour helpline)

This is a helpline for children and young people up to the age of 19.

Freephone: 0800 1111

www.childline.org.uk

 

Men’s Advice Line

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

Freephone: 0808 801 0327

www.mensadviceline.org.uk