Hospitals reveal shock number of FGM victims in the capital

Nearly 1,000 women and girls suffering from female genital mutilation were being treated in London hospitals last month, the first official figures on the barbaric practice revealed today.

The statistics show that 740 of the London victims were women whose cases had been previously identified by medical staff.

But 252 of the women and girls were “newly identified” cases discovered since a new reporting system was introduced by hospitals.

The statistics — which show that London accounts for more half of the recorded FGM cases across England — will heighten concerns about the number of women and girls who have suffered cutting.

The figures include women who were treated for conditions related to FGM, and those who were in hospital for any other reason but who disclosed they had suffered FGM in the past.

Announcing the findings today, public health minister Jane Ellison said the publication of the first official figures was a “milestone”. She added: “We know that FGM devastates lives but understanding the scale of the problem is essential to tackling it effectively.

“This data will help us care for women who have had FGM, and prevent more girls from having to suffer this traumatic experience.”

Today’s figures show that across England a total of 1,746 women and girls with FGM were treated last month. Of these, 467 were newly discovered cases, while the remainder were women or girls whose mutilation had been identified previously.

London accounted for 992 of the cases, representing 56 per cent of the national total. The next worst affected region was the Midlands and East of England, with 266 FGM cases.

Campaigners welcomed the publication of today’s first official figures.

Tanya Barron, head of the global children’s charity Plan UK, said: “These statistics show once more the need for an effective strategy to reduce to nil the incidence of FGM in the UK.

“But we must remember that FGM is a global problem — and it needs a global solution. We simply won’t end FGM in the UK without ending it abroad.”

Mary Wandia, FGM Programme Manager for charity Equality Now said: “It is great news that the NHS is starting to gather this much-needed information. What we need now is for healthcare professionals to receive adequate training to ensure that girls at risk are protected and for care and support to be given to girls and women who are living with the consequences of FGM.”

Much of the previous evidence about FGM had been gathered by media organisations, including the Evening Standard, and campaign groups.

The lack of official figures raised concerns that the problem was being overlooked and prompted calls for reform. It is now mandatory for NHS trusts to record and submit FGM figures. Despite this, only 125 out of 160 NHS trusts provided figures for today’s statistics.

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