POOLE Hospital is practising what it preaches and offering cervical cancer screening appointments to its staff to raise awareness of how screening can help identify the onset of the disease.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under-35 in the UK and more than 3,000 women are diagnosed every year. Yet, says the hospital, screening attendance is currently at a 19-year low across the country and this has had serious implications for diagnosis rates and mortality and also financial implications for the NHS.

An event was organised to promote this simple, quick and painless procedure that determines the health of the cervix. The screenings were open to all staff who have an invitation letter from Public Health England.

The fully-booked event took place in the hospital’s Harbourside gynaecology unit on May 13 and was run in association with Dorset HealthCare’s Sexual Health Dorset service.

“It’s not always easy to arrange an appointment at a GP surgery if you work shifts and have a busy family life,” said Louise Melson, obstetrics and gynaecology consultant and lead for colposcopy services at the hospital. “This was a chance for staff to have a screening at a time that suits them and me and the team are keen to increase screening rates by doing all we can to help.”

Staff who had a screening were very positive about the day. One said: “This is a brilliant idea to have at the hospital. It should happen more often as it’s really hard to fit in something like this when working shifts.”

Another said: “Thank you so much! It was such a great idea and very reassuring.”

Mortality rates for cervical cancer have decreased by almost 70 per cent since the introduction of the NHS cervical screening programme, said the hospital.

n If you would like to know more about screenings visit the NHS website or contact your local GP or sexual health service.