Our Research will Improve Cervical Screening Uptake
What's in the Toolkit?
In 2024, our research found that cervical screening uptake could be boosted through small changes such as offering appointments outside core GP hours and adjustments to help improve the testing experience.
The Toolkit features some of our recommendations to increase uptake, including prompts around:
- Appointment times and days –is screening offered outside core working hours or at the weekend?
- Location of Services –are services easily accessible?
- Reassurance/clinical advice –does the patient need further information or support to attend?
- Is a double appointment needed? – does the patient need extra time?
- Method of invitation –is the invitation in the correct language? Can the patient read? Would they prefer a text?
- Facilities –is the clinical set up accessible to all? Does the patient require specialist equipment?
- Pre-screen orientation –would the patient benefit from a look around the clinic space and the equipment to be used?
What can patients ask for?
For patients, the Toolkit also recommends accommodations that can be made to help them feel more confident and comfortable including requesting:
- A female practitioner conduct the screening
- A chaperone in the room with the patient (either someone they know or another trained member of staff)
- Pessaries or creams to help with vaginal dryness
- A smaller speculum (the tool that is inserted in order to be able to see the cervix).
Our evidence showed that many patients were not aware that they could ask for these types of supports or adjustments, so it’s important that this has been addressed in the Toolkit.
Cervical Screening resources have also been developed by the Hertfordshire Learning Disability Nursing Team to ensure that testing is accessible to all, including that mental capacity guidance is followed; appropriate communication tools are used; and steps are taken to reduce future risk of delays in diagnosis.
The Toolkit was created through projects funded by the East of England Cancer Alliance.
“The work that Healthwatch Hertfordshire completed on the cervical screening experience in Hertfordshire in 2024 has helped to shape how we approach activities to improve the uptake of cervical screening in our population.”
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer.
Cervical screening checks a sample of cells from the cervix for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). These types of HPV can cause abnormal changes to the cells in your cervix and are called "high risk" types of HPV.
If these types of HPV are found during screening (an HPV positive result), the sample of cells is then checked for abnormal changes. If abnormal changes are not treated, they may turn into cervical cancer. Finding high risk HPV early means that it can be monitored for these abnormal cell changes. Abnormal changes can be treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
Even if someone has had the HPV vaccination, they still need a screen because not all high-risk HPV types are eradicated.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening
If you've recently had a Cervical Screening, have you noticed any improvements or changes at your GP? Let us know by sharing your experiences or emailing info@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk
