What is the Sexual Assault Service?
We are a specially trained team of female nurses, nurse examiners, doctors, and counsellors. We provide confidential and sensitive medical care and emotional support to anyone 13 or older who has been sexually assaulted within the past 7 days. We welcome women, men, and trans-gendered survivors of sexual assault, and are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
We explain what we can offer; you decide what is best for you.
Our service options include assessment and treatment of injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy prevention, as well as forensic sample collection and a report for police. We also can provide referrals to health, legal, and community-based support services.
Where can I find the Sexual Assault Service (SAS)?
If you have been sexually assaulted within the past 7 days, you can go directly to the Vancouver General Hospital Emergency Department at 920 West 10th Avenue (near Broadway and Oak) in Vancouver, B.C. Ask for the Sexual Assault Service. Our female nurses and doctors are on-call 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
We provide care to anyone 13 or older, from any province or country. No Carecard (MSP) is needed.
You are welcome to bring a friend, family member or support person with you to the hospital. Interpreters for those who are deaf, or have difficulty with English, are available.
Female patients may arrange for a Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW) worker to accompany them at the hospital. Please call (604) 255-6344.
What will happen at the hospital?
When you get to the Emergency Department at Vancouver General Hospital, an emergency nurse will ask you a few questions about your health. Then the nurse will contact the Sexual Assault Service. The nurse will take you to a safe, private room. The Sexual Assault Service will arrive within 45 minutes.
Our specially-trained female nurses and doctors will care for you in a safe and supportive environment. We will explain how we can help, and respond to any questions or concerns you might have. We will offer you choices about your care. These choices include a check for injuries, medications for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, and/or forensic sample collection. You will decide what you would like us to do, and we will respect your decisions.
What about the police?
At the hospital, we will give you information about your legal options. It is your choice whether or not to report the sexual assault to the police. We will support whatever decision you make. If you choose to report to the police, we can collect forensic samples and summarize our findings in a medical legal report. If the case goes to court, we can testify (tell the court about the medical findings).
What Happens after I leave the hospital?
We will give you information about commonly experienced feelings, thoughts, and responses to sexual assault. We will also give you some recommendations for follow-up treatment. If you like, the Sexual Assault Service counsellor will call you in a few days to find out how you are doing and answer any of your questions.
How you may feel:
Sexual assault is traumatic. You may be in a state of shock and find it hard to believe this really happened to you. Some people do not remember what happened.
You may feel embarrassed, ashamed, guilty, anxious, depressed, angry or numb. Some people have nightmares, difficulty eating or sleeping, or are afraid to go outside. You may also be worried about sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, HIV, or injuries. These are common concerns after a sexual assault. You may have other concerns. There is no right or wrong way to feel or respond.
We know that whatever happened was not your fault.