FURIOUS health experts have warned that rape victims may not seek medical help if a state-of-the-art clinic closes.

The Swindon Sanctuary, at Taw Hill Medical Practice, only opened in July 2003. But cash-flow problems could mean the sexual assault referral centre closes on March 31.

Support groups including Victim Support Wiltshire and Swindon Women's Refuge have begged health bosses to find a solution.

Dr Peter Crouch, of the centre, is also the principal police surgeon for Wiltshire. And he warns closure of the centre could send conviction rates plummeting.

Currently, rape victims who do not want to get police involved can refer themselves to the centre.

Forensic evidence is gathered, but only used if the victim wants to push for a conviction.

If the facility closed victims would have an 80-mile journey to London the nearest Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

Swindon's new Gablecross police station has a suite for sex victims but only for those who have reported the incident as a crime.

But Dr Crouch says victims are much more likely to want to press charges if they feel supported in a clinical setting.

"It sounds obvious, but in order to get a conviction you need to gather evidence," said Dr Crouch.

"If patients are supported from day one by trained staff in a clinical setting they are much more likely to make better witnesses in court.

"Victims of sexual crime often withdraw their allegation because they do not feel supported."

Back in April the centre received a one-off grant of £70,000 from the Home Office to develop facilities.

Now the centre is expected to find funding from other sources but that looks unlikely.

Dr Crouch said: "The funding will run out at the end of March and Swindon Primary Care Trust and Wiltshire Constabulary have not been able to identify any further funding for the project."

Dr Crouch confirmed that nine members of staff could lose their jobs.

"Our staff see the look of relief on victims' faces when they come to us,' he said. "Swindon Sanctuary is like the air ambulance service and the RNLI you never expect anything to happen to you but if it does you want to know the service is there."

A Home Office spokesman said: "We offered a one-off £70,000 grant. Funding is now the responsibility of the local PCT and police force."

Kirsty Brain, a spokeswoman for Swindon PCT, said efforts are on-going to find more funding. No one from Wiltshire police was available for comment.

Centre is a lifeline, say the experts

Glenys Armstrong, the area director for Victim Support Wiltshire, said: "We run the Wiltshire Rape Support Helpline. It's open each Thursday and we probably get around six calls each week.

"Where would we direct victims if this centre closes?

"We always recommend victims go to the SARC.

"Unfortunately, it seems to be Government practice to give funds and hope that projects will be picked up locally."

The rape support helpline number is 0808 800 1144.

Jenni Manners, of Swindon Womens' Refuge, said: "It would be a tragedy if this centre closed. Swindon Sanctuary is a vital resource for victims of rape and sexual assault.

"The centre gives victims a softer' setting to seek treatment than police stations."

Steve Bevan is from Swindon Survivors a support group for male victims of sex crime.

He said: "Why are they thinking about closing this centre when so much time and money has been put into it?

"This sexual assault referral centre is vital to Swindon. When I get a phone call from a guy who has been raped I tell them to go to the centre.

"Victims can get help from what is really a healthcare centre rather than a police station."

Help at hand

The Swindon Sanctuary opened in July 2003 and forms part of Taw Hill Medical Practice, which cost £2m.

So far, 300 people have used the service. Since May last year 60 people have been treated. Increasingly, men are seeking treatment, although accurate figures were unavailable.

Staff include a centre manager, six trained crisis workers and two doctors.

Before Christmas the centre unsuccessfully applied for additional Home Office funding.

The Advertiser's view

THE possible closure of Swindon Sanctuary is a disaster that seems to have been wholly avoidable.

The Home Office insists it has always made it perfectly clear that its £70,000 grant made a year ago was a one-off.

That means the primary care trust and the police must have known for the best part of a year that there would be a shortfall in funding this spring.

Why then are we treated to the spectacle of a mad scramble for a solution, reminiscent for all the world of panicking school pupils trying to do last night's homework on the morning bus?

We are not talking about a trivial facility: Swindon Sanctuary is a place of refuge for victims of sexual assault. As one of our most respected doctors, Peter Crouch, explains, it is akin to the air ambulance, in that it is there for people who hope they will never have cause to use it.

Unless a solution to the cash shortfall is found that place of refuge will close.

The people deserve better than this. They deserve, for one thing, authority figures who put plans in train to ensure the funding of vital institutions.

They also deserve a full explanation of how the current situation, leaving the future of one such institution hanging in the balance, came about. Will such an explanation for this apparent lack of forward planning be forthcoming?

We would like one, and also a resolution which sees the centre still open in two months' time.