Rainbow Haven is a place of welcome, support and opportunity for displaced people living in Manchester, Salford, Trafford and surrounding areas. It is a place for all refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants.
In June I reached out to them to see if I would be welcome to deliver a session on the importance of Cervical screening. I was delighted to be invited and welcomed into the ‘Mama Group’. This was a group of females all with children.
The NHS invites women for screening every three to five years depending on their age, or more frequently if the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected, with the programme saving thousands of lives annually.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme, England 2023-2024 annual report, published by NHS England today, found that 68.8% of 25 to 64-year-olds were screened within the recommended period, compared to 68.7% the previous year. Coverage was higher for 50 to 64-year-olds at 74.3% compared with 25 to 49-year-olds at 66.1%. Women nationally are being urged to attend there cervical screening appointment as five million women are not up to date.
NHS cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by using a highly effective test to check for HPV, which is found in over 99% of all cervical cancers and which may cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. These abnormal cells can, over time, turn into cancer if left untreated.
On arrival I was welcomed into the centre and introduced to the ladies. There was a hive of activity and laughter when I introduced myself and what the session was about. The session leader was bi-lingual and would interrupt the conversation to explain in Arabic. Many languages are spoken including Arabic, Tigrinya, Ukranian, French, Romanian and Slovakian.
Many of the ladies had never had a smear test, did not know what it involved and what we are screening for. I had taken a supply of speculums small, medium and large and let the ladies have a look at them and hold. There was lots of laughter when I demonstrated how it is used. I had lots of easy read booklets with colourful photographs demonstrating the smear test. I gave out lots of leaflets and booklets in their own languages.
As the session unfolded, the ladies began to ask lots of questions, wanting to know how to access their appointment, who would carry the test out and how long the results will take. At the end of the session, we talked about the importance of checking our breasts and how to examine our breasts when we are in the shower, to get into a regular routine of what is normal for us.
We had a small refreshment break, and this was an opportunity for the ladies to ask about individual problems and concerns to which I advised making appointments with the practice nurse and GP. There were lots of questions to be answered within the group and one to one. Knowing that a small afternoon may have made an impact for a woman to go and attend a cervical screening test is wonderful, to know that sharing information and education can empower a woman.
Last week I was delighted to receive an email inviting me to return in December to cover cervical screening and breast screening to another new intake of women.
Nicola Robinson, Lead practice nurse