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<p>Throughout the previous female genital mutilation (FGM) Prevention Programme, the
focus of protecting young girls from FGM remained on local National Health Service
trusts, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and Local Safeguarding Children Boards
and other partners to develop appropriate local arrangements to deliver the improvements
themselves.</p><p> </p><p>Governance and monitoring/planning was built into the Programme
framework since its launch in 2014, including plans to conclude the Programme and
discussions and arrangements for the work to be taken forward after April 2018. Over
the four years since the launch, regular discussions took place between Departmental
officials and NHS England, who worked closely with regional safeguarding teams across
England, and these teams will be carrying on the work to tackle FGM across the NHS
in England.</p><p> </p><p>The Programme held a number of transition events, both regionally
and nationally, and communicated with all key stakeholders including Local Safeguarding
Children Boards, to strengthen the focus on local progress and coordination. Regional
safeguarding teams will now oversee this work.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England and its partners
remain committed to tackling FGM and ensuring that all respective staff understand
that this important element of safeguarding work remains as business as usual. All
partners involved will continue to protect and support young girls potentially at
risk from FGM, which is a completely unnecessary medical and highly physically and
mentally damaging procedure.</p>
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