TUESDAY, 23 JANUARY, 2024

Photograph attached: Gynae cancer lead Dr Kalpana Ragupathy (seated centre) with colleagues from the colposcopy and gynaecology teams at the Ninewells stall

NHS Tayside staff go pink for Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

To mark Jo’s Trust Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22-28 January), NHS Tayside’s gynae cancer specialists and colposcopists are going pink to share information on the importance of cervical screening and HPV vaccines.

A series of events is taking place to raise awareness of the benefits of cervical smear tests and HPV vaccines and to encourage more people to attend screening.

There is an information stall in the main concourse at Ninewells Hospital throughout this week for staff and visitors to find out more information and ask any questions they may have about screening or the HPV vaccine. The team has a variety of selfie props for people to take pictures and spread the message of cervical cancer prevention and cervical screening on their own social media pages.

On Saturday (27 January) the teams, with support from Public Health, are taking over the Arbroath Parkrun to help raise awareness amongst participants. They will take their information stall and selfie booth to the event, with members of the team taking part in the run and encouraging others to wear pink in support of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Anyone who wishes to walk, jog or run the 5k route can sign up for free at www.parkrun.org.uk/westlinks

A pop-up smear clinic is also taking place on Wednesday 7 February at Arbroath Infirmary for anyone aged 25-65 who is overdue or has never had a smear test. Appointments can be booked by calling 01382 632305 or just drop-in to the outpatient department between 5.30 and 7.30pm for screening. This follows on from successful pop-up clinics held previously in Ninewells and Perth Royal Infirmary which saw many women coming forward to get their smear tests.

Gynae cancer lead Dr Kalpana Ragupathy said, “Screening saves thousands of lives each year in the UK but around one in four women living in Tayside are overdue for their smear test. 

“Around 30 to 40 women in Tayside are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, and sadly many have not been for regular screening. Individuals who present with symptoms rather than changes in the smear are more often diagnosed with later stages of cervical cancer, which are harder to treat, with treatment often involving radiotherapy and chemotherapy which can lead to loss of fertility.

“The key symptoms of cervical cancer are persistent irregular or unexpected bleeding or discharge. These symptoms can also be associated with benign conditions, so it’s important that the cervix is checked to ensure there are no sinister changes.

“We hope that the initiatives undertaken as part of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week will enable more individuals to have a smear test done and address some of the barriers that might have deterred them in the past.”

Want to know more about your smears?

• Talk to your nurse or GP

• Visit www.nhsinform.scot or call 0800 224488 (textphone 18001 0800 22 44 88). The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and also provides an interpreting service.

• Visit Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust on social media, at jostrust.org.uk or call 0808 8028000

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718