Ahead of Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, women across Derby are being invited to several pop-up cervical screening clinics across January, February and March in a bid to increase the uptake of screening appointments.
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The campaign, supported by Derby County Community Trust aims to highlight the ease of booking a test, the importance of fitting a smear appointment into busy diaries and that taking charge of your health is a form of self-care.
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The clinics, which will take place at surgeries across Derby City (Listed below) are being held to raise awareness of cervical cancer and the importance of screening.
Derwent Valley Medical Practice
DE21 6AT
7th February – 9.00am-5.00pm
7th March – 9.00am-5.00pm
Derby Family Medical Centre
DE23 6QQ
31st January – 9.00am-5.00pm
28th February – 9.00am-5.00pm
28th March – 9.00am-5.00pm
The Park Medical Practice
DE21 6LA
31st January – 9.00am-1.00pm
7th February – 9.00am-1.00pm
28th February – 9.00am-1.00pm
Park Farm Medical Practice
DE22 2QN
14th March – 9.00am-5.00pm
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If you are registered with one of the above GP practices and are eligible for a screening appointment, you will receive a text message on how to book an appointment. You can also book an appointment by calling your practice. See you at your smear.
What is cervical screening?
Cervical screening (previously called smear test) is offered to help prevent cervical cancer. It is not a test to diagnose cancer. Screening looks for high risk human papillomavirus (HPV). If high -risk HPV is present, then the sample will be checked for changes to the cells of the cervix. Finding and treating these changes can prevent most cases of cancer. Regular screening is important, and screening starts at the age of 25 in the UK. Anyone with a cervix is eligible. You are still at risk of cervical cancer even if you have had the HPV vaccine, or are lesbian, or bisexual or a trans man or a non-binary person with a cervix, so it is important to attend screening.
What is HPV?
HPV is a very common group of viruses. 8 in10 people get some type of HPV during their lives. Most HPV viruses are low risk and do not cause problems, but high-risk HPV can cause changes in the cervical cells which may become cancer if untreated.