Pohutukawa Clinic — Adult Auckland Sexual Assault Assessment and Treatment Services

Yes, your privacy and confidentiality is very important to us and the utmost care is taken to keep your details and circumstances private.

Yes, contact us for advice or an appointment. You can also do this through your local health provider (GP/family doctor), a crisis support agency, or the police.

You do not have to report to the police to access our service.

We encourage crisis services to be part of your assessment as they are experts in this field. You are welcome to bring a friend or whānau member with you to the clinic for support.

Bring in the clothes (including underwear) you were wearing when you were assaulted. We may have to collect your clothing for evidence, so you may want to bring a spare change of clothes. We can also provide new clothes if needed.

We will start by asking about your medical health, medications, contraception, menstrual history, sexual history and any symptoms you might have. This information helps us look after your health needs. Don’t worry, all this information is confidential. If you decide to involve the police, we will ask your consent before passing any information on to the police.

We will ask you about the sexual assault. To reassure you, we just need the general story, not all the details. This will help us decide what sort of examination needs to be done.

You will be offered a physical examination if you feel comfortable to do so. Not everybody needs this. If you do have one, the clinician will make sure you feel safe and keep everything as private as possible. You can stop at any time you wish.

During the examination, we may collect evidence with your permission again. This can include swabs taken for semen and saliva, urine and blood tests, clothing and hair samples. The police will collect this evidence and scientists will examine it and provide a report to the police.

We will treat and provide advice on any injuries you may have. However, if you have any serious injuries such as broken bones and head injuries you may need to be seen at hospital. We will help with any concerns you have about pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. We will give you information on how you can get counselling and access help from other support services.

It ranges, but usually 1-2 hours.

No. Many people think that there are injuries to the genitals or other areas after a sexual assault, which the doctor will be able to see. This isn’t necessarily the case and the police understand this. There are several reasons why you may not have visible injuries after an assault. For example:

• The type of contact that happened, for example touching and kissing doesn’t cause injury.
• Your genital tissues are stretchy and allow things to go inside without necessarily causing an injury.
• A small injury happened, but it healed by the time you were examined.

The Pohutukawa clinic is a team of doctors and nurses with specialist training in sexual assault care and forensic medicine. All of our team have been trained in sexual assault care and forensic medicine by the national organisation, Medical Sexual Assault Clinicians Aotearoa (MEDSAC). (external link)

The name Pohutukawa was gifted by a representative of our Tangata Whenua (Ngati Whatua) through Auckland Healthcare.

The pohutukawa tree symbolizes all-encompassing sturdiness, protection and nurturing, gaining strength via its roots from the whenua (land), no matter how precarious and barren the sit may be where it stands.

Just as the tree provides sustenance and shelter to all manner of bird life regardless of their status, so the service nurtures all clients and recognizes each individual’s right to settle and see shelter in its branches.

We are committed to providing the highest quality health service that is sensitive, accessible and acknowledges social and cultural diversity.