Positive working between midwife and GP
Updated 24 November 2015
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A woman visited a Well Women’s Clinic to find out her FGM status and to discuss options available for surgical intervention. She had not accessed information about her FGM before, not only because of the sensitivity of the subject, but also because she felt embarrassed to be examined unless it was by a female clinician.
The midwife explained the different types of FGM, implications and complications which can result from it, and the law (FGM Act 2003). The woman agreed to be examined and Type 3 FGM was evident.
The midwife contacted the woman’s GP to discuss her request to be de-infibulated (opening of scar tissue on the vulva) and her medical history. Later that day the woman was seen and examined by her GP. A letter with the findings, which supported the information the midwife gathered from her consultation, was faxed to the clinic. The de-infibulation surgery was successfully undertaken 3 weeks after the initial appointment and a letter was sent to the GP informing her of the outcome of the surgery including details of a follow up appointment.
The woman in the above case disclosed that she had younger sisters (born in the UK) who had not yet had FGM. The midwife agreed to follow up with the family to safeguard the girls and maximise their awareness of the law in the UK. She informed the family about the law and gave them English and Somali versions of the ‘Statement Opposing FGM’ . She also informed the health visiting team for them to follow up as appropriate.