The Haven
What we do
The Haven provides urgent and follow-up care to people who have been sexually assaulted or raped. We offer:
- support, advice and counselling
- medical care, such as emergency contraception and infection prevention
- forensic examinations to collect evidence
- follow-up medical care, such as pregnancy tests and tests for sexually transmited infections (STIs).
Some of our services are time dependent, so please phone us to discuss this. We can help you to contact the police and report what has happened, and it is their duty to investigate. If you report the assault to the police first, they will organise your visit to us.
We respect our patients’ confidentiality and right to privacy. Where appropriate and necessary for your care, safety and wellbeing or to assist the investigation, we will discuss with you what information can be shared and how.
Find out more about us and the service we offer at www.thehavens.org.uk
Preparing for your appointment
Anyone can contact us on your behalf: you, a friend, a family member, the police, a doctor or nurse. The Haven is not a walk-in service: an appointment must be made and confirmed by telephone, email or letter.
If you, or the person for whom you are making contact, is considering a forensic examination following a recent sexual assault or rape, please keep any underwear, clothing or sanitary wear as this may provide useful evidence.
Do not wash or bathe before an examination because it may remove forensic evidence.
If you do not remember what has happened, it is important you understand the examination itself will not provide an answer, and forensic tests may not show any evidence (such as DNA), but that does not confirm that nothing happened.
Where possible, the doctor or nurse who you saw before coming to The Haven should try to provide any medical care you need.
Location
Ground floor, Caldecot Centre, 15-22 Caldecot Road, London, SE5 9RS
Contact Details
- General enquiries and follow-up appointments: +44 (0)20 3299 1599
- Non urgent enquiries: [email protected]
- Urgent advice / appointments: +44 (0)20 3299 6900
Patient information leaflets
| Title | File Size | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Have you been raped or sexually assaulted? (easy read version) | 634 KB |
Conditions we treat
For all under 13s referrals:
Acute cases (within the last seven days) can only be referred to us by the police for time-sensitive collection of evidence. Social care will be informed. For non-acute referrals, we require a social care referral and police will be informed.
We provide comprehensive, patient-centred acute and follow-up care to those who have been sexually assaulted or raped. Our patients or clients may be women, men, adults or children.
We provide:
- immediate support and advice
- clinical care such as emergency contraception, HIV PEPSE, hepatitis vaccinations, bacterial prophylaxis
- forensic examination to collect evidence, where appropriate, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- follow-up clinical care, such as pregnancy testing and STI screening and treatment
- counselling
- anonymous police clinics with sexual offences investigations officers.
Some of our services are time dependent, so please phone us to discuss this or for advice. Although many patients attend having already reported to the police what has happened, we can assist in making contact on their behalf.
We are not a walk-in service, so appointments must be made with our staff and confirmed by telephone, email or letter.
What is required before referring a patient
If the patient is considering a forensic examination for evidence, following a recent sexual assault or rape, retaining underwear, clothing, sanitary wear and so on may be useful. Washing or bathing before an examination may remove forensic evidence.
Evidence collection is time dependent, so information about what happened and when is required.
A relative, friend or advocate may attend with the patient, for support. If their ability to consent is impaired or they have any special needs, such as requiring a translator, please tell us.
Clinicians should try to provide any medical care at their first point of contact, before the patient attends The Haven.
Clinical care takes priority over forensic examination, although they are often combined.
People with serious injuries – for example, vaginal bleeding, head injuries or stab wounds – should be seen and assessed in the ED first.
Booking a patient at King’s
Routine Referrals
To refer a patient or discuss a potential or current referral, call the Haven Camberwell and ask for the Haven doctor.
Tel: 020 3299 1599, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (not bank/public holidays)
Also see www.thehavens.org.uk
Emergency Referrals
For all under 13s referrals:
Acute cases (within the last seven days) can only be referred to us by the police for time-sensitive collection of evidence. Social care will be informed. For non-acute referrals, we require a social care referral and police will be informed.
If a patient tells you have they have been raped or sexually assaulted, call the urgent advice/appointments number below. We can tell you whether to advise your patient to come to us immediately for medical care and/or a FME or to visit us at a later date for aftercare. If they need to be seen urgently, we aim to see them within 90 minutes of making the appointment.
Tel: 020 3299 6900 – urgent advice/appointments, 24/7
Also see www.thehavens.org.uk
Other Queries
For all other enquiries, including following up on existing cases and discussing local service arrangements in general, call the Haven Camberwell reception.
Tel: 020 3299 1169, 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (not bank/public holidays)
Also see www.thehavens.org.uk