Staff cervical screening is the first for the Black Country
Date of release: 13 August 2024
A Black Country NHS Trust is the first to offer cervical screening clinics for staff while they’re at work, making it quick and convenient for them to get tested.
Cervical screening clinic
The Gynaecology Nursing Team at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) set up the scheme to help staff fit the vital screening test into their busy lives.
It comes as the NHS has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 by making it as easy as possible for people to get the lifesaving HPV vaccination and increasing cervical screening uptake.
The clinics are being held monthly at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital, with the first taking place last week.
Zoe Kirby, Lead Nurse at RWT, said: “We wanted to help improve the access to the service in the hope it will help tackle the challenges faced when trying to book a cervical screening test.
“The test takes less than five minutes and can be attended during your working hours or at your convivence.”
Shiona Connolly, Colposcopy Co-ordinator, was the first member of staff to receive her smear test during the working day. She said: “This service is so convenient. I haven’t had to take time off work. It was more accessible and was such a friendly service.”
Joanne Cotterell, Head of Clinical Coding and Data Quality, said she was thrilled to hear about the launch of the initiative and was eager to book. She said: “It was really easy to get booked in and I think it is great women are able to have their smears in a quick and convenient time that suits them.”
Julie Davies, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, started in the cervical screening service 24 years ago and said she was delighted to be able to help women access cervical screening at a time that suits them.
Staff can book through a dedicated email once they have received their NHS invite.
The NHS cervical screening programme invites women, ages 25 to 64, for cervical screening. Invites are issued every three to five years (depending on where you live and your age). Please note you need to be registered with a GP to get your screening invitations.
During the appointment, nurses check the health of your cervix and the test helps find any abnormal changes before they can turn into cancer. It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.
If you aren’t a staff member at RWT, you can book your cervical screening by calling your GP. For further information, please visit the NHS website.
