Almost nine out of 10 patients (87 per cent) who provided feedback following a new pilot initiative said a GP surgery is a suitable place to be asked about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
Under the pilot initiative, 85 per cent of patients also said it was acceptable to provide information about ACEs to a health practitioner, and four out of five (81 per cent) said it was important for practitioners to understand this information.
Just under a third (30 per cent) of general practice patients reported having experienced two or more ACEs, with these patients more likely to engage in health harming behaviours such as smoking and more likely to be currently living with poor mental health.
However, for just under 60 per cent of those with ACEs, this initiative represented the first time they had told a professional or service about these experiences.
The local pilot initiative, carried out in Anglesey by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, supported by the ACE Support Hub and evaluated by Public Health Wales, provides evidence of public support for questions about ACEs within the context of a supportive relationship with a health professional.
“For too many people in Wales, ACEs are still part of childhood and a burden they carry with them throughout their lives.
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