It is now easier than ever to get a cervical cancer screening test in Enfield at a convenient time and location to suit the busiest of lives.
- Enfield Council urges women to take up their free cervical screening test
- Primary care access hubs offer appointments outside traditional surgery opening hours
- Council will be supporting Cervical Cancer Prevention Week from 22 January
It is now easier than ever to get a cervical cancer screening test in Enfield at a convenient time and location to suit the busiest of lives.
During Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (22-28 January) Enfield Council is urging women who have received an invitation for a cervical screening test to book an appointment at their GP surgery or at a primary care access hub. The test can potentially save lives.
Enfield Council's Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, Cllr Krystle Fonyonga, said: "The number of people being screened for cervical cancer in Enfield is higher than London but lower than the average in England. We are therefore working hard to improve the uptake of screening and want to see a day when cervical cancer becomes a disease of the past.
"We fully support this year's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week campaign which is called ‘Reduce Your Risk'. One in four women don't attend their smear test. If you are invited to a cervical screening, please attend as the symptoms of cervical cancer aren't always obvious.”
You can get a test at your local GP surgery or, you can book an appointment at any one of Enfield's primary care access hubs. These hubs are open in the evenings, on weekends and during public holidays, which means there are now more opportunities than ever to get a suitable appointment. It is possible to have a smear taken at any time in your cycle other than when you have your period.
Hubs can be found at Evergreen Primary Care Centre in Edmonton, Carlton House Surgery in Enfield North and the Woodberry Practise in Winchmore Hill. They are open from 6.30pm-8pm weekdays; 8am-8pm on Saturdays and public holidays.
About 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK. According to the cervical cancer charity Jo's Trust, 75% of cervical cancers can be prevented by cervical screening*.
To find out more about what you can expect in a screening test, go to NHS - Cervical screening. Enfield Council's Healthy Enfield website also has lots of information about your health, as well as information on support groups and charities.
* Source: Cervical Cancer Charity Jo's Trust. For more information, visit Jo's Trust - Cervical screening.
* You can book a cervical screening appointment with your GP or practise nurse directly. Or call one of Enfield's primary care access hubs on 03000 333 666.
* The addresses of Enfield's hubs are as follows:
- Evergreen Primary Care Centre, 1 Smythe Close, Edmonton, N9 0TW
- Carlton House Surgery, 28 Tenniswood Road, Enfield, EN1 3LL
- The Woodberry Practice, 1 Woodberry Avenue, Winchmore Hill, N21 3LE