Women in Peterborough are being urged to get their cervical screenings
Figures show a third of women over 50 who are eligible are not going for their smear test
Women in Peterborough are being urged to get potentially life saving cervical screenings
75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by cervical screening but statistics show only around one in three women take up their screening invite.
As well as this, figures show a third of women over 50 who are eligible for the screening are not going for their smear test.
It's 10 minutes that could save your life
NHS England says in 2022-23 only 74% of women aged 50 and over who were invited to attend did so.
The Gynaecology department at Peterborough City Hospital holds a Colposcopy clinic twice a month and can see up to 10 patients per clinic.
The screening test aims to pick up changes early that could develop into cervical cancer if left untreated.
Michelle Hydes, Colposcopy Gyane Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Peterborough City Hospital, said:
"There is definitely a proportion of people who don't go for their screening."
"Some of that can be from lack of education."
"There are some people who think because they've had a vaccine they don't need to have a screening, and that's absolutely not true."
"Sometimes it can be to do with people being scared to have it done because it's a fear of the unknown."
"For those people that don't get screenings, there is a risk that there are changes that go unidentified, and then they will ultimately present with a cancer at some point because of symptoms rather than attending their screening."
"We know that most people have a very busy lifestyle."
"But it takes 10 minutes, and it's 10 minutes that could save your life."
Too many people aren't going for their screenings
North Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Care Partnership – in collaboration with the Trust - is working directly with GP practices across the local area to empower those invited to a cervical screening to attend with the aim of increasing cervical screening uptake.
North Care Partnership has also recorded some Cervical Screening FAQ videos in a number of languages to help with raising awareness of cervical screening, to engage diverse communities and overcome language barriers.
Over the coming months they will be holding additional cervical screening clinics within the community to improve access to screening particularly in rural areas and those with high footfall.