Emergency Rooms for Sexual Abuse are located in Reykjavík (National Hospital, Fossvogur location) and Akureyri Hospital (Sjúkrahúsið á Akureyri) and out side those service area, at your local health care centre.
Going to the Emergency Room for Sexual Abuse
If the offence is recent, the special Emergency Room for Sexual Abuse is the right place to go.
This page is a part of the guide for victims (18+) of sexual offences.
Try to come as soon as possible
For many victims of sexual offences, a visit to this specialised emergency room is the first step towards recovery. It is best to come as soon as possible, both for the sake of your health and any potential investigation of the offence.
Support, examination, and treatment
Staff evaluate which services you need and want to receive in consultation with you. Some of the available services are:
- A consultation with an ER nurse.
- A medical examination and treatment based on your needs.
- A forensic examination where evidence is collected and injuries evaluated.
- A referral to a crisis team.
For investigation of the offence
If you decide to press charges for the offence, the first 72 hours after it is committed are very important. That’s when there is the best chance to collect data that can be used in the case if it goes to court. This includes biological specimens, data from the scene of the offence, and information about witnesses. This is another reason why it is good to go to the ER right away.
You can have police take you to the ER or ask for the police to come to the ER if you have decided to press charges for the offence right away.
Length of visit
The medical examination itself is often short. The visit as a whole can take 2-4 hours but that depends on the scope of each visit.
Here is more information about the emergency rooms and what a visit and examination are like:
Who knows that you went to the ER for Sexual Abuse?
The identity of everyone who goes to the ER for Sexual Abuse remains anonymous. That applies to the entire process.
Dealing with trauma
Your health is the most important thing and trauma can have varying repercussions. It is good to seek help as soon as possible in order to understand how the impact may be presenting itself in your case, but it is never too late. At the ER for Sexual Abuse you can get a referral to a crisis team. Survivor support centres are also there to help you work through the trauma.
