This document provides a summary of best practice in relation to WestCASA. The summary has been created to support staff during the Sunshine Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment transition and early post-move period, and has been endorsed by the ED Leadership Team.
This QRG provides an overview of the WestCASA service for victims/survivors of sexual assault.
This QRG is applicable to all SHED nursing and medical staff.
It is the responsibility of the Nurse Unit Managers and Medical Directors of the SHED to ensure the relevant staff know about this procedure, that is implemented according to the guidelines as outlined within, and that there is compliance by all staff members.
The WestCASA service provides crisis response for recent sexual assaults through the Crisis Care Unit (CCU), located on Level One of the SHED.
Children and young people 17 years and under who present following sexual assault should be referred to the Gatehouse Centre at the Royal Children’s Hospital as per the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS) guidelines.
Table 1 – Keys located with ED NIC to access WestCASA area
| Key Number | Access |
| WestCASA 1 | WestCASA and Adult Fast Track First floor |
| WestCASA 2 | WestCASA and Adult Fast Track First floor |
| WestCASA 3 | WestCASA and Adult Fast Track First floor |
| Fast Track 1 | Adult Fast Track First floor |
| Fast Track 2 | Adult Fast Track First floor |
When a patient self-presents to ED and is not accompanied by police or a WestCASA counsellor, the Triage Nurse is to provide the patient with information about WestCASA and the CCU support available at Sunshine Hospital. Consideration should be made to undertake triage process in a Triage Assessment Room to afford the patient with appropriate privacy.
The patient has the right to choose:
Forensic medical examinations can only be requested if a patient is prepared to disclose the sexual assault to police. Police are the only agency permitted to request the attendance of forensic medical officers (FMO) from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM).
If a script is required for a WestCASA patient, this should be organised through the Consultant/Senior Registrar on the floor (or a delegate nominated by them).
If a Doctor’s Certificate is required for a WestCASA patient, this should be organised through the Consultant/Senior Registrar on the floor (or a delegate nominated by them).
If a patient chooses to proceed with treatment by ED medical or nursing staff, they should be informed that this decision is supported, however will compromise the integrity of a forensic examination should the client change their mind in the proceeding 72 hours.
If the patient consents to a service response from WestCASA the Nurse in Charge (NIC) is to contact:
Where a patient is to be accompanied by Police (SOCIT) or WestCASA, the agency will contact the NIC to notify of impending CCU and WestCASA staff will attend within 30 minutes of notification.
In some circumstances, Police, WestCASA or SACL may make arrangements with the client to meet the responding agency at the hospital. Where this occurs, the responding agency will contact the NIC to notify them of the CCU and provide an estimated time of arrival.
If a client phones ED and discloses a sexual assault, the NIC will inform the client of sexual assault service supports available at the hospital. With the client’s consent, the NIC can facilitate a notification to WestCASA (during hours) or SACL (out of hours) to arrange a CCU.
Alternatively, the NIC can provide the following contact numbers for the client to initiate contact:
In circumstances where WestCASA, SACL or Gatehouse Centre cannot be contacted, please escalate in the following order:
The WestCASA ensuite are fitted with doortop alarms (DTA). The DTAs function to:
In the event the DTA is triggered the following response should be enacted:
*Please refer to supporting documents for further information on DTA
The Adult Fast Track Resus Trolley will be located out the WestCASA Consultation Room Door. It will be checked daily by the Resus Nurse for stock and testing of Defib. The Nurse checking this trolley will retrieve the Fast Track swipe card from the NIC and will access Fast Track only (not going into WestCASA space. If an emergency call is made from WestCASA the Adult Acute team will respond and collect the swipe key from the NIC to access emergency resus equipment in Fast Track.
*Please refer to supporting documents for further information.
Document Governance
| Title: | WestCASA | |
| Version: | 2.0 | |
| Date Published: | May, 2021 | |
| Date of scheduled review: | 01/05/2022 | |
| Author: | Approver: | |
| FIona Pazsa | SHED Leadership Team | |
