Scotland's only dedicated 24-hour support unit for rape victims may have to turn some women away in a growing funding crisis.

Archway Glasgow is considering a move to stop referrals to its service from Lanarkshire after the area’s health board refused to pay for services.

The centre, which has been widely praised for both supporting victims and helping police catch their attackers, is struggling to make ends meet as its budget shrinks and the number of women it aids grows.

Campaigners believe cutbacks will create a “postcode lottery” for victims. Sandy Brindley of Rape Crisis Scotland, a major champion of Archway, said: “This kind of service should not be a luxury. We are now talking about a situation where victims from Lanarkshire will not get a service offered to those from the rest of Strathclyde.

“We are worried about the long-term future of the Archway -- when we really should be worrying how we should be expanding this kind of service to the rest of Scotland.”

Archway was set up five years ago under a Scottish Government pilot. It expanded to cover the whole of the Strathclyde Police area in 2009.

Working day and night, it has become the first and final stop for many women reporting a sexual offence -- and for others who choose not to go to the police.

Crucially, its team of doctors and nurses, all women, gather forensic evidence as well as giving vital psychological first aid. Archway has quickly grown. As word spreads of its work, more and more people are either referred by other agencies, such as the police, or “self-refer”. Between January and June of 2010 it helped 169 victims. In the first six months of this year the figure was 233. But its funding went down, not up.

Archway has a budget of £598,000. Just over half of that £311,000 comes from Strathclyde Police. But they cut their contribution by about 10% this year.

The rest of the money comes from NHS Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow City Council and Ayrshire and Arran health board. No public body from Lanarkshire puts up any money -- although the Strathclyde Police funding covers the entire force area.

Archway sources admit they are having to consider something unpalatable: Telling Lanarkshire that it will have to look after its own rape victims.

Figures show that in 2010 there were 105 rapes and attempted rapes in the two council areas of North and South Lanarkshire. Insiders acknowledge that Archway’s long-term funding is at risk. But supporters yesterday stressed cutting cash for the service could end up costing the NHS more in the long-term. Victims of sex crimes can develop serious mental health problems if they are not given counselling as soon as possible.

A spokeswoman for NHS Lanarkshire insisted that the Archway service was still available to Lanarkshire residents.

She said: “NHS Lanarkshire does not provide funding to Archway, and has not done so in the past. While we recognise the good practice model undertaken by Archway, given the challenges of the financial climate, any funding request would be considered as a development and would need to be prioritised against all other health service developments.

“If there was no future access to Archway’s services, Lanarkshire residents reporting rape or sexual assault to the police would have access to local physical after care and be offered a referral to Rape Crisis Scotland in line with the new protocol arrangements being introduced across Scotland from August 1.”

 

A pioneering system

Less than a year ago, she almost died when she was savagely assaulted and raped.

The 47-year-old says the only reason she is here today is because of Archway.

But potential cuts which could result in a "postcode lottery" have sparked major concern among rape victims, who fear that people who are sexually assaulted will lose vital support -- and may even end up committing suicide.

Katie (not her real name), from Glasgow, was knocked to the ground, violently raped and stamped on so badly she suffered severe head injuries.

She credits Archway’s pioneering system for helping her secure her attacker’s conviction, as well as giving her much needed psychological assistance. She said: "If Archway didn’t exist, I’d never have got to the stage I’m at because I would have just put a face on and brushed it under the carpet. And the man who raped me would still be roaming the streets."

Katie called potential cuts "devastating" and questioned how limiting the service to one area would work in practice.