Norma Jean MacPhee

Victims of sexual assault in Sydney, N.S., will have new treatment services available to them beginning Monday.

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, also known as SANE, is being expanded to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. It is being launched by the Every Woman's Centre.

"It's important to victims of sexual assault to know that their health and well-being will be supported ... that they will be believed and that they're treated with dignity and respect," said Louise Smith-MacDonald, centre&nbsp;co-ordinator.

Smith-MacDonald said she hopes&nbsp;the availability of the SANE program will&nbsp;encourage more victims to seek help after an assault.

"It's about making sure that victims are treated and they learn that the program is something that they can trust."

Twelve registered nurses will be on call 24/7 to assist anyone over the age of 13 who has experienced a recent sexual assault.&nbsp;

When victims go to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, one of the SANE nurses will be called.&nbsp;

While they wait, victims will be given a private, quiet room within the emergency department.&nbsp;

Louise Smith-MacDonald is the coordinator of the Every Women's Centre in Sydney. 

Louise Smith-MacDonald

The SANE program is currently offered in Antigonish and the Strait and Port Hawkesbury areas.

Last week, Premier Stephen McNeil&nbsp;said&nbsp;the program should&nbsp;be made available in Truro, after a young sexual assault victim sought help from the Colchester East Hants&nbsp;Health Centre but was given pamphlets and turned away.&nbsp;

McNeil says lack of treatment for Truro sexual assault victim unacceptable

Nova Scotia's premier says a hospital's decision to turn away a young sexual assault victim was unacceptable, and Stephen McNeil is now calling on the province's Health Department to determine who was responsible.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said Friday that the lack of treatment for a sexual assault victim in Truro, N.S., is unacceptable. While Health Minister Randy Delorey would not commit to expanding the Sexual Health Nurse Examiner program to Truro last week, McNeil said Friday the service should be provided.

Stephen McNeil

'Huge gaps' still exist in access to rape kit exams across Nova Scotia

Sexual assault victims that live in some parts of Nova Scotia have to travel as far as four hours round trip to have a rape kit examination done at a hospital.

Swabs, tubes and other sterile equipment used to perform forensic sexual assault exams.

A forensic exam can be done up to 120 hours after a sexual assault, and the results can be kept for days, months or even years while a victim decides if they want to pursue charges.

Forensic examination (also known as a rape kit) at HSC

Some Nova Scotians face a long journey to get access to forensic exams, also known as rape kits, which can be done up to 120 hours after a sexual assault.  

Sexual assault nurse examiners&nbsp;are trained to collect&nbsp;evidence, a practice commonly called a rape kit exam. They are also&nbsp;trained on how to send victims&nbsp;on for further services to help them recover.&nbsp;

Smith-MacDonald&nbsp;said&nbsp;the program also gives victims the option to have any forensic evidence frozen, allowing them up to six months to lay charges.&nbsp;

"In our program, a victim won't have to make that decision immediately," she said. "They&nbsp;can decide during those six months whether to go forward with a charge or not."

Sexual assault victims can call the toll-free number 1-844-858-8036 and then be connected to a SANE program nurse.&nbsp;

"This is a community response to a horrendous issue that is gentler and takes&nbsp;into account the victim more," said Smith-MacDonald.&nbsp;

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program will be facilitated through the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. 

SANE program for sexual assault victims expands to Sydney

Trained nurses on call 24/7

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