Cervical screening made easier: How we’re improving access

Cervical cancer screening is a vital preventive health measure, and according to this BBC report, around a third of women in the UK don’t attend their smear test appointments. In response, the Grange team is actively working to improve uptake by implementing patient education initiatives, offering flexible appointment times, and engaging with the local community to address barriers and misconceptions about screening.

Community Engagement Events

In late 2024, we launched community engagement events at the local mosque and Sikh temple to address barriers and misconceptions about cancer screening. These sessions provided us an opportunity for open dialogue, enabling patients to ask questions and understand the importance of regular cervical screening.

The positive response from the community has been encouraging, and we are dedicated to continuing this outreach to build trust and awareness.

Spreading Awareness

Our communication officers have worked tirelessly to spread the message about cervical screening through social media platforms. Planning sessions for campaigns have been a collaborative effort between our team, and our creative work continues to raise awareness.

Monitoring Progress

Our practice manager, Davinder, tracks patient responses to these initiatives on a monthly basis, producing detailed reports on uptake rates. Below is a snapshot of our recent data:

“In October 2024, only 73.1% of our eligible population have had cervical screening. Although this is in line with local and national performance, achieving 80% or above is “green”. We knew there was work to do.”

Davinder Singh,

Practice manager

“We responded to this data by increasing appointment availability and addressing patient feedback regarding timings. Our nursing team received further training and development to qualify as smear-takers, significantly boosting our capacity for this essential screening service.”

Cervical screening appointments at The Grange are now more accessible, with weekdays availability from 8 AM to 8 PM, including Saturdays. The recall process has been enhanced, incorporating a personalised telephone call to help patients arrange a convenient appointment that works best for them. Plus, patients are also given the opportunity to speak with a Practice Nurse before their appointment to address any questions or concerns they may have.

On 28th October, we had 575 eligible patients who were due for cervical screening. On 17th January, we had been able to reduce the number of outstanding patients to 328 (43% improvement, or 243 patients seen).

Addressing DNA Challenges

While we have seen improvements, DNA appointments remain a significant challenge. If you are due for cervical screening but have concerns or need adjustments, our team is always here to help. Through the PATCHS platform, you can have a digital consultation with our nurses to address any questions or make specific requests prior to your appointment or on the appointment day itself. And you can always call us for telephone bookings or queries alongside PATCHS.

Cervical screening clinics are prone to high did not attend (dna) rates and late cancellations. We always offer an alternative appointment when patients call to cancel.

Don’t worry if you were invited weeks or months ago or missed your smear test appointment. Contact us via PATCHS or call us to book now.