[Competence centre for victims of violence as part of the public health services--a consecutive case series of the "Schutzambulanz Fulda"].

Health-care services often fail to address violence sufficiently and to provide adequate forensic medical examination and documentation, especially in cases of intimate partner violence and violence against people in need of care. The "Schutzambulanz Fulda", hosted by the public health department of Fulda county, aims to close this gap in the east Hessian region. We have evaluated the first year of service. Between November 26(th) 2010 and November 26(th) 2011 a total of 154 persons called for support. Data concerning personal characteristics of the victims and the suspected perpetrators, the time and place of the incidents, and their impacts were analysed. 76.6% of th subjects were female, 23.4% male and 18.8% were less than 18 years old. In 60 cases a documentation of the injuries suitable for use in court was made. The majority of clients were women who reported having been assaulted by their partner or ex-partner. Community violence was less frequently stated. Contact to people in need of care suffering from violence was very rare. Currently, the "Schutzambulanz" as part of a public health department meets the goals to some degree. A comparative evaluation could help to identify the benefits and disadvantages of various trusteeships within the health-care system.