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<p>There are a number of specialist National Health Service clinics nationally that
will treat women with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The services offered by these
clinics vary and provide a range of procedures including de-infibulation, counselling
and other services specifically for girls and women affected by FGM. Most are run
by specially trained doctors, nurses or midwives who understand FGM and are able to
treat some of the medical problems caused by it.</p><p>With regards to guidance for
women seeking care in areas with no dedicated FGM clinic, it is for clinical commissioning
groups to commission appropriate local services for the health needs of their populations.</p><p>
</p><p>There is a range of research around the clinical provision for FGM, both nationally
and internationally. The Department is aware of research, for example around both
reconstructive surgery and de-infibulation. As these and other evidence bases develop,
we will consider what outcomes the research might offer within the context of the
NHS. Currently the focus of our FGM health work remains on prevention.</p><p> </p><p>With
regard to joint working between general practitioner (GP) practices and hospitals
which run FGM clinics, these relationships should be the same as the relationships
between any other GP and hospital FGM services whether in maternity, gynaecology or
any other setting related to FGM or otherwise. The FGM Enhanced Dataset specification
Standardisation Committee for Care Information (SCCI) 2026 and other guidance materials,
where appropriate, also contain information in relation to the data which should be
exchanged between GPs and any clinic in relation to FGM.</p><p> </p><p>The Department
does not hold information on the locations or opening dates of clinics to deal with
FGM. NHS England holds details about the number and location of specialist NHS FGM
services nationally - currently there are 13 FGM clinics of which eight are located
in London.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to information on the categories of clinic,
the FGM Enhanced Dataset supports the Department’s FGM Prevention Programme by presenting
a national picture of the prevalence of FGM in England. Data is collected by healthcare
providers in England, including acute hospital providers, mental health providers
and GP practices.</p><p> </p><p>Treatment Function Code is collected within the Enhanced
Dataset. This is recorded to report the specialised service within which the patient
is treated.</p><p> </p><p>The most recent, annual report from the FGM Enhanced Dataset
was published on 4 July 2017. A copy is available at the following link:</p><p><a
href="https://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB30015" target="_blank">https://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB30015</a></p><p>It
reported on attendances in the NHS between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017. A known
Treatment Function Code was recorded for only 59% of total attendances. The most common
treatment functions associated with the identification and treatment of FGM in this
period were within midwifery services, obstetrics, mental health recovery and rehabilitation
services and gynaecology.</p><p> </p><p>A full list of treatment function codes is
available in the NHS Data Dictionary, which are available at the following link:</p><p><a
href="http://www.datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/attributes/t/tran/treatment_function_code_de.asp?shownav=0"
target="_blank">http://www.datadictionary.nhs.uk/data_dictionary/attributes/t/tran/treatment_function_code_de.asp?shownav=0</a></p>
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