Cancer screening success for Stockport

8th March 2018

Stockport is in the premier league when it comes to the work it’s doing to increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening.

That’s the view of Jo’s Trust, a national cervical cancer charity, in their latest report.

In England, screening uptake has dropped to its lowest level in 20 years – running at an average of 72% – which led Jo’s Trust to ask what’s being done to halt the decline.

Stockport has a higher uptake rate, at 75.5%, and it’s decreased slower than average falling just half a percent in eight years.

This is due to the hard work of the borough’s GP surgeries, together with Stockport Council’s Public Health team, to persuade women about the importance of the going for their smear test.

In their report, Jo’s Trust highlighted the comprehensive and targeted work being done in Stockport to improve screening attendance.

It includes identifying and training at least one Practice Cancer Champion in every GP surgery who takes responsibility for increasing their uptake rate. The Cancer Champion programme is jointly delivered in the borough by Cancer Research UK and Public Health.

Practices have been putting on evening and Saturday morning smear clinics to make them more convenient for working women.

A whole raft of measures have been used by practices to increase uptake rate including sending out text message reminders or following up those who don’t turn up for their smear with a phone call.

Led by the Cancer Champions, patients have also been opportunistically chatted to about coming in for their smear when they ring the practice for other reasons.

Dr Ranjit Gill, Stockport CCG’s Chief Clinical Officer and local GP, said “This is vital work and though uptake rates are better than average, we could do even better with our patients help.

“This is a wholly avoidable cancer – the smear test will pick up abnormal cells before they even become cancerous – so please attend your screening. It only takes five minutes but it could save your life.

“We understand that some women feel embarrassed about the test but your doctor or nurse do these tests all the time so will do their best to make you feel at ease. Please don’t let a little embarrassment put your life at risk.”