Dr Matt Kearney, a GP in Runcorn, said health professionals had a "poor reputation for responding to and recognising domestic violence".
He told a conference last week that GPs were particularly reluctant to get involved, and said domestic violence was "not high on their agenda".
The new GP contract made engagement difficult, said Kearney. They had "other priorities, such as heart disease and cancer", he said, admitting "we're not going to change that".
Kearney told the conference he thought GPs were reluctant because they were unclear how their notes could be used. He said: "It is difficult for GPs to work out the implications of recording something because they are so immense."
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