NHS staff to receive training to prevent human trafficking

UK healthcare workers are to be given support to empower them to make a difference in preventing human trafficking offences.

NHS staff will receive training and support to help them spot and help people who have been illegally trafficked, with 1,186 potential victims having been identified last year – up by 25 percent on 2011.

Victims of human trafficking can be men, women or children and are often subjected to extreme suffering, but the difficulty of recognising victims can make it hard to provide help.

As such, doctors and nurses will be trained to recognise potential giveaway signs, such as patients being afraid to speak and reluctant to explain the cause of injuries or provide personal details, or those accompanied by others who insist on speaking for them.

Public health minister Anna Soubry said: "Surgeries and hospitals are sometimes the only place where victims come into contact with people who care and are concerned for their welfare so it is vital that we make the most of these opportunities."

These efforts will complement existing projects to raise awareness of human trafficking, such as the Blue Blindfold campaign run by the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre.