// Boots provides safe space for domestic abuse victims during coronavirus lockdown
// The health & beauty retail giant has teamed up with charity Hestia
Boots has set up a safe space for domestic abuse victims at its UK pharmacies as cases rise during the coronavirus lockdown.
Domestic abuse victims will be able to access the spaces at Boots pharmacies under measures to improve access to support.
The Metropolitan Police said it was making an average of about 100 arrests a day for offences linked to abuse in the home since the lockdown was imposed last month.
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Many victims, who are unable to seek help while at home trapped with their abusers, will still be expected to shop for food and medicine.
Meanwhile, domestic abuse charity Hestia is overseeing a safe space model in consultation rooms at most of the 2400 Boots pharmacies across the country.
Those who need to use the safe space consultation room need to ask at the pharmacy counter.
They will receive access to the 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline, the men’s advice line and phone numbers for services specific to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“We recognise that key workers in pharmacies hold a unique position within the community as a single point of contact for victims,” Hestia head of UK Says No More campaign Lyndsey Dearlove said.
“By creating this safe space in Boots pharmacies, we hope many will be able to safely access support while following government guidelines.”
Earlier this week, Boots offered its support to the NHS after it announced plans to donate more than 500,000 products to local NHS Trusts, hospitals, care homes and community groups.
The donations include 100,000 toiletries, 5000 recuperation packs and other hygiene essentials.
The patient recuperation packs are for people who have recently come off ventilators at NHS Nightingale hospitals across the UK.
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