Health workers have been coached to spot signs of domestic abuse and respond safely.

The Ministry of Health, along with the Centre Against Abuse and the United Kingdom Health Security Agency, recently completed the three‑day Train the Trainers course led by IRISi, a UK charity helping health systems respond to violence against women and girls.

The ministry said that the number of Domestic Violence Protection Orders issued in Bermuda had risen from 91 in 2022 to 140 between January and November 2024, and that childhood trauma was a common factor.

Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, said: “Domestic abuse is a serious public health issue and healthcare workers are often the first people survivors turn to.”

As well as covering skills such as running steering groups and collecting and monitoring data, special training came on guiding patients who have experienced abuse.

The pilot phase of the programme is due to begin this year, aimed at improving early identification, strengthening referral pathways and supporting closer collaboration between health providers and domestic‑abuse services.