The Government has launched a campaign to help nurses and other frontline health workers spot the signs of modern slavery.

The advertising and social media campaign was launched in West Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Cambridgeshire and is aimed at nurses and other healthcare workers to raise awareness of common signs of human trafficking and ensure staff report any concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline.

The campaign is aimed at helping nurses identify common signs of modern slavery that could include people being forced to pay cash wages into someone else’s bank account, multiple medical prescriptions from the same address or someone being accompanied to and from an appointment by someone who is obviously not a relative.

Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability Victoria Atkins said:

“Ending the scourge of modern slavery is a priority of this Government. We all have a role to play in tacking this appalling crime.

 

“It is vitally important to give front-line workers, who come into contact with potential victims of trafficking and modern slavery the tools they need to spot the signs of abuse and the confidence to report any exploitation they see.”

Michael Rich, chief executive of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, said frontline workers in health were “in a perfect position” to identify patients and service users who may be being exploited saying:

“Modern slavery hides in plain sight and this campaign is vitally important in educating those workers about what signs to be alert to, what they can do to help, and who to contact if they have concerns,”

 

“They are our eyes and ears and the information they provide could be crucial – it could end suffering and even save lives.”