SDLP Sinéad McLaughlin Derry Assembly representative has announced that she will support a campaign led by a leading cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, called ‘Time to Test’ to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening and support her team to attend appointments.
As part of the campaign, the Foyle MLA has committed to her staff that they can attend a screening during working hours if they are unable to get an appointment at a different time.
Getting a test around working hours can be difficult for many people and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has expressed concern that COVID has exacerbated this, as 1 in 3 of respondents to their survey say they feel less able to take time off to attend medical appointments because of the pandemic.
Research by the charity has also found that women can find it difficult to access a convenient cervical screening appointment and this may be delaying women in their access to potentially lifesaving screenings. Cervical screening prevents around 75% of cancers from ever starting.
It follows the announcement that all health trusts in the North have missed the target for reporting smear test results.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The difficulties that women can face in accessing their healthcare are both hugely significant and, worryingly, rarely discussed.
“There is still unacceptable stigma around our healthcare needs and too often, our pain is dismissed and our experiences are spoken about in whispers.
“We should be breaking down all the barriers to women’s access to healthcare, including those caused by work and the inability to access convenient appointments.
“We know that many women have had to take sick leave or annual leave to attend a cervical screening appointment and as we hopefully move towards more flexible working, we need to ensure that everyone has the guaranteed time to them to access these hugely important appointments that can prove life-saving.
“I am committed to ensuring that my team feel confident and comfortable in discussing their healthcare needs and accessing the services they need.
“I will play my full role in helping to break down the barriers that still exist so that every woman can access the healthcare she needs in a timely way.”
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