violent crime and support
The devastating impact of violent crime extends beyond the clinical sequelae. The propagating effects of despair, cynicism, and a self-destructive trajectory cannot be fixed by simply healing the injury. The Clinical Director for the Violence Reduction Programme, both in London and for the UK, is a trauma surgeon who works at The Royal London Hospital.
Since 2015, he has instigated programmes that aim to understand the patient’s story that preceded their injury. The objective is no longer just “patch people up” and discharge them to the same toxic milieu that led to the injury but to provide a network of support that will alter their trajectory.
Part of this programme is the work done by the St Giles Trust, who make contact with anyone affected by serious youth violence. In their own words, they approach the patient at “the teachable moment – [when] they are seriously hurt and at their most vulnerable and recognise they need help”.
A presentation by members of the Violence Reduction Programme and the St Giles Trust would showcase the work they do to turn lives around.
speakers
Samir Khattab
Samir Khattab - Team Manager for St Giles London Hospitals.
A dedicated Youth Practitioner specialising in gangs, youth engagement, peer group violence, county lines and risk factors/indicators. Currently delivering hospital based youth work in Royal London Hospital and Newham Emergency Department.
Driven to support our most marginalised youth & communities who are impacted by violence, criminal exploitation, and gangs. Fuelled by lived experience and being the change I want to see.
Prof. Martin Griffiths
Martin Griffiths is Clinical Director of the London Violence Reduction Programme. A consultant trauma surgeon at The Royal London Hospital, he has led pioneering work since 2015 to address serious violence by understanding the social and personal factors that precede injury. His approach moves beyond treating physical harm to providing coordinated support that helps change life trajectories for those affected by violence.
Katy Drillsma-Milgrom
Katy Drillsma-Milgrom is a dedicated ITU nurse and Major Trauma Coordinator with extensive experience in managing critically ill patients. With a passion for delivering compassionate, high-quality care in high-stress environments, Katy now works as a TNC coordinating the multidisciplinary efforts needed to stabilise and support patients through life-threatening injuries. In her current role, Katy specialises in key working complex trauma cases, overseeing the clinical care of patients who have experienced severe injuries due to violent incidents, such as assaults, gunshot wounds, as well as other forms of trauma like RTC's etc. Katy collaborates closely with trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, therapies teams, mental health professionals, and colleagues within the community and London boroughs to ensure a holistic approach to patient care, addressing both the immediate physical needs and the longer-term psychological, social, financial and safety impacts of violence. Advocating for the victims of violence, working to bridge the gap between medical treatment and the complex social issues that often accompany trauma is large component of Katy's job as a TNC. This has lead her to work closely with the St Giles team at the Royal London Hospital.