What is FGM? 

Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, involves all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. 

The FGM Act 2003 and the Serious Crime Act 2015 make FGM illegal. The FGM Act also makes illegal to perform/arrange for FGM to be carried out on a girl in the UK or to take a girl abroad.

You can read more about FGM here FGM – National FGM Centre

What should I do about FGM? 

If a girl (under 18) has disclosed she has undergone FGM or you have visually identified FGM,  you should call the police and MASH.

If you are concerned that a girl is at risk of FGM, a referral must be made to MASH.

If you are concerned that the girl is in immediate danger call 999.

You can find many helpful resources, including a direct work toolkit to use with children or parents where you think FGM might be a risk, on the National FGM Centre website here FGM Direct Work Toolkit – National FGM Centre

FGM NHS Support Clinics

National FGM Support Clinics (NFGMSCs) are community-based clinics that offer a range of support services for women with female genital mutilation (FGM).

The service is free to access for anyone who's eligible for NHS care.  National FGM Support Clinics run either weekly or every 2 weeks. Referrals from GPs and other health professionals are strongly encouraged, but you can also access a clinic through:

• walk-in appointments
• using a self-referral service

For women over 18, the nearest clinic is at the Whittington Antenatal Clinic. For young women and girls under 18, support is available through the specialist paediatric service at UCLH (you can email UCLH for an appointment at [email protected]) 

You can find more information about NHS FGM Support Clinics here National FGM Support Clinics - NHS - NHS (www.nhs.uk)