If you are being hurt, help is available.
If someone close to you — a partner, ex-partner, family member or carer — is hurting, controlling, threatening or frightening you, you are not alone. This page has crisis numbers, what we can do at the clinic, and how to use this page safely.
Before you read further — cover your tracks
If the person who hurts you might check your phone or computer, please be careful.
- Tap the red Quick exit button (at the top) at any time. It takes you to a weather page and replaces this page in your browser history.
- To stop this page being remembered: use private/incognito mode (Safari · Chrome · Firefox all support this).
- To erase past visits: clear your browser history afterwards. Settings → History → Clear.
- If someone else has access to your phone, consider reading this on a friend’s phone, a library computer, or at our reception — just ask.
National helplines, free & confidential.
You don’t have to give your name.
Police — immediate danger
999
If you cannot speak, stay on the line, then press 55 when prompted.
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)
0808 2000 247
24 hours, every day. Free, confidential. Run by Refuge. Women, with language interpretation available. BSL service available.
Men’s Advice Line
0808 8010 327
For male victims of domestic abuse. Mon–Fri 10am–8pm. Free, confidential.
Galop — LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
0800 999 5428
Specialist support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. Mon–Fri 10am–8pm.
Karma Nirvana — honour-based abuse & forced marriage
0800 5999 247
For victims of honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and FGM. Mon–Fri 9am–5pm.
Refuge online chat
Web chat · Mon–Fri 3pm–10pm
If you can’t make a phone call safely, you can chat online with a trained adviser.
How MHW Clinic can help.
Domestic abuse affects health. If you are a patient, tell any of our clinicians or reception — you do not have to come in with a partner or family member. We will listen, take your concerns seriously, and offer the following.
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A private consultation, alone. You can ask reception for a one-to-one with a clinician. If your partner is with you, we can find a reason to see you alone (a urine sample, blood pressure recheck in another room).
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A trained chaperone. If you would feel safer with another member of staff in the room during your consultation.
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Documentation of injuries. If you wish, your clinician can document any injuries in your medical record with photographs and a written description. This may help if you decide to involve the police later. Records remain confidential and are released only with your written permission or by court order.
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A referral with your consent. To local domestic abuse services, sexual health support, mental health support, or to your NHS GP if you wish your NHS record to reflect this. Nothing is shared without your permission, except where children are at risk (see below).
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A safe space and time to think. You don’t have to decide anything during the appointment. We will give you the helpline numbers above, a quiet room if you need it, and a follow-up appointment if you want one.
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Booking under a different name. If you are concerned your appointment may be traced, you can use a different first name when booking. Tell reception confidentially what your real name is so your records are accurate.
What we can and cannot keep private.
What you tell our clinicians stays between you and the clinical team. Your records are not shared with your partner, family, employer, or anyone else without your written consent. We will not contact you in ways that put you at risk — tell us how it is safe to contact you (e.g. don’t leave voicemails, only text from a specific number, only call between certain hours).
The one exception: If a child under 18, or a vulnerable adult, is at risk of harm, we are legally required to make a safeguarding referral. We will tell you if we need to do this, who we are telling, and why. We do this as carefully as possible to keep you and any children safe.
You can also choose to involve your NHS GP, the police, or a specialist service like Refuge — or not. The decision is yours.
Contacting us discreetly.
You can:
- Book a private GP appointment — mention “personal matter” if you don’t want to say more on the phone.
- Come in person and ask reception quietly for a confidential word with a clinician. Our reception is trained.
- Send a WhatsApp to 07903 284 189 — messages are read by reception and forwarded to a clinician.
- Email haydar.bolat@mhwclinic.co.uk — goes directly to our Clinical Director and Safeguarding Lead.
If you are a patient and we have an existing relationship, you can also speak to any clinician you trust at your next appointment.