The Bridge > Avon River Clinic

Avon River Clinic

The Avon River Clinic supports children and young people aged 0 – 17 who have reported non-recent (8 or more days ago) sexual abuse or for whom sexual abuse is strongly suspected.

We deliver health and care for children and young people by:

  • Providing advice, reassurance and support
  • Completing an assessment of their needs, health, welfare and development
  • Offering a check/examination of their body
  • Thinking about what they will need when they leave the clinic, which could include help with their future health, emotional and mental health support
  • Ensuring their safety with the help of other professionals

Our clinic is run by specially trained health professionals who can ensure that the child / young person understands what will happen and that they can choose what they want to include in their appointment.

All and any part of our offer is optional for the child or young person. They can choose (including on the day) which parts they want and can change their mind at any time. They can also choose who accompanies them. The duration of the appointment varies but can be up to two hours.

Our clinic is currently based at Southmead Hospital on Wednesday mornings.

We welcome referrals from professionals only via our referral form.

Refer a child/young person (Under 18) to the Avon River Clinic

Download referral form

Eligibility

Children and young people:

  • Up to their 18th birthday, and
  • Residing in Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Swindon, or Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES)

Referral is appropriate when any of the following apply:

  • There is a report of sexual abuse or sexual assault that occurred 8 or more days ago
  • There is no formal report, but professionals working with the child have concerns and suspicions of sexual abuse
  • The child or young person has disclosed, or is suspected to have undergone, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)

Exclusion

  • Sexual abuse or sexual assault within the last 7 days – please call The Bridge on 0117 342 6999 to discuss options
  • People aged over 18 years. People aged 18 and older can access our adult services – please call The Bridge on 0117 342 6999 to discuss options, or visit our referrals page
  • Child protection medical assessments for suspected physical abuse or neglect without any suspected sexual abuse – please follow your local guidance/referral pathway for arranging child protection medical assessments
  • Children and young people living in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – please see our referrals page if you would like to refer a child or young person living in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire

Information booklets

Click here to download our guide for children aged 2-10.

Click here to download our guide for children and young people aged 10-17.

Understanding medical examinations for child sexual abuse concerns - CSA Centre Video

The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse have produced a video resource about the role and purpose of a medical examination in situations where child sexual abuse has been disclosed or suspected. Please see below for information provided by the Centre:

The practitioner resource

Dealing effectively with a problem as pervasive and important as child sexual abuse needs everyone with a stake in working to prevent child sexual abuse to get involved.

This evidence-informed film will help professionals from multi-agency backgrounds better understand the role and purpose of a medical examination in situations where child sexual abuse has been disclosed or suspected. It is applicable to any setting in which children may be seen for a medical examination, and is relevant to both recent and non-recent cases of CSA.

The resource aims to help professionals and practitioners involved in advising, referring and supporting children and families make decisions and explain processes to children and families.

This video has been produced by the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse and all credit goes to them. Please visit their website for further information on this resource.

Page last reviewed: 10/11/2025

Next review due: 10/11/2027

Experiences

All the staff have been so friendly and welcoming, and very kind. I was supported from the very first contact, and overall, could not have gone through the past few years without this wonderful service.  A major asset to our NHS service, and one that I hope is able to reach as many individuals as need it.