Shropshire hospital staff offered smear tests at work
Staff at Shropshire's hospitals will be giving up their lunch breaks to offer their colleagues smear tests.
Workers at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (Sath), who are struggling to find the time for their cervical screening test, can now have the procedure done at work.
It is the idea of the trust’s colposcopy team as part of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which aims to raise awareness of the disease and how cervical screening can help to prevent it.
As well as making accessing a test easier for female members of staff, the team is also hosting two information stands outside the restaurants at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
They will be providing information for patients and staff about preventing cervical cancer, including keeping up-to-date with cervical screening and any symptoms associated with cervical cancer.
And to add a fun element, the team has knitted cervixes as part of their campaign being held in partnership with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.
They may even bake shortbread cervixes too.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix.
Women aged between 25 and 49 will be invited for cervical screening every three years.
Women from the age of 50 up to the age of 64 are invited every five years.
Sister Claire Carr, lead colposcopy nurse for Sath, said: “In partnership with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, we will be using the week to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening for ladies.
"From January 28, we will be offering smear tests to staff who, due to working shifts and full time, are finding it difficult to fit in their tests at their GP surgery.
"This will be done by appointment during our lunch breaks.
“We hope this will encourage staff to look after their own health as we spend so many hours looking after other people.”
Dr Jill Blackmore, lead colposcopist at Sath, who also works for Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “The number of women attending their test has declined nationally recently.
"There may be a number of different reasons for this.
“Young women who have had the HPV vaccination may not think they need a test, but it is important that they have regular screening once they reach 25.
"Others may have found the test uncomfortable or embarrassing, while others may not understand the importance of screening.
“It is so important for women to keep attend cervical screening when they are invited to do so, as it can help prevent cervical cancer.”
