A DOCTORS surgery has trained all its staff to spot signs of domestic abuse after the tragic case of its patient Claire Throssell, whose two sons died in a house fire.
Penistone Group Practice has been supporting local Penistone woman Claire Throssell in her bid to get more people to talk openly about domestic abuse after her two sons, Jack and Paul Sykes, were killed in the 2014 house fire started deliberately by their abusive father Darren Sykes.
The practice has re-trained all staff, including doctors, nurses and even the receptionists, to notice if there are signs of domestic abuse, and doctors make sure to ask if patients are safe.
Staff at the practice are also supporting Claire’s charity Heads Together Barnsley, which is in memory of her two boys, and aims to provide support to families facing trauma.
Claire, 47, is also working with Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS) to encourage people throughout the borough who are suffering from domestic abuse to speak to their GP, nurse or local surgery to get support in a campaign called Speak to Me.
The surgery is behind Claire’s work as there were missed opportunities to see the domestic abuse Claire and her family were suffering.
However, the practice has undergone retraining and staff say they want to encourage other practices to look for signs of domestic abuse.
Dr Helen Morris, 51, said: “You could say that we are even guilt-ridden.
“I think it is fair to say that the practice would say that.
“We could have done better, every practice can say that about different things. I had interactions with Claire back then would things be different if the abuse was spotted?
It is something that will always be on my mind.
“We do have that guilt here and we want to give something back.
“We all make mistakes as doctors and we all live with it, but this is a pretty awful one.”
She added: “I think it is about raising awareness of Speak to Me and Heads Together. It’s also encouraging people to come and talk about domestic abuse because people don’t get that patients will come over and over again to their doctors surgery and the reason is because they are suffering at home. You can’t make people access help but you can be there to support them.”
Claire said: “The surgery really is doing something great for the community. They are helping to train other practices to detect signs of domestic abuse. It is all about awareness.
“Abuse is a crime, we are living in a democracy and people shouldn’t have to put up with that. People live with fear and oppression every single day in their own home and it is not acceptable.
“That culture needs to change and if that takes coming out and saying ‘I did things wrong and let my boys down’ I let them go on that visit on that Wednesday night then so be it. If it saves other children’s lives then it is worth it. To team up with this fantastic surgery has been great.”
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Staff help to run up huge total
STAFF at Penistone Group Practice have raised more than £2,000 by running a half marathon for Claire Throssell’s charity Heads Together Barnsley.
They’ve been training since October for the Monsail Trail Half Marathon to raise awareness of domestic abuse and fundraise for the charity, in memory of her two sons Jack and Paul who were killed in a fire started by their dad.
Dr Helen Morris and colleagues organised the effort. “It was knackering but we are all really pleased and glad we decided to do it,” said Dr Morris.
“It’s fantastic how much we have raised.”
Claire said: “This isn’t the first time that Helen has done something for Jack and Paul, she did a triathlon for Women’s Aid before the Head’s Together charity came about.
“This event in particular means a lot as everyone at the surgery has held their hands out and admitted they had been in the wrong when detecting signs of domestic abuse.
“Now, they have done some re-training and have completely turned it around. It’s amazing what they are doing now.
“The doctors surgery is a great place for people to talk about what’s going on at home, and for those who are undergoing domestic abuse, it might be the only time they are alone and away from their perpetrator.
“Even if people are in doubt, they need to go and see their GP and speak up. Don’t do what I did; I tried to keep my sons safe myself and take the falls. GPs are a safe and friendly place to be.”
The surgery says that anyone of any age can get help to escape domestic abuse and is advising people to seek support.
The donation page raising funds for the Monsail half marathon is still open and all money goes to help families undergoing trauma. To donate, visit mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/threeps
