Cervical screening motion to be put to Derry City and Strabane council

by Gráinne Connolly

Derry City and Strabane District council will be asked to write to the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health this week, as well as the Minister of Health in the Republic of Ireland, urging them to reconsider their current cerivcal screening policies.

Councillor Caoimhe McKnight is bringing the motion forward on Thursday at a council meeting.

She says smear tests should be available to all women regardless of age, if they request it.

Under the current policy, women in Northern Ireland must be aged 25 or over to avail of the service.

Speaking before the meeting, Councillor McKnight said, "I felt it was very important to bring this motion forward.

"Cervical screening is about preventing cancer not simply detection and health officials should reconsider the policy of only offering screening to over 25s.

“I can speak from experience when I say that a Smear Test could literally save your life.

"When living in Scotland at the age of 21 (which is the age there at which you are eligible for a smear) I received the notification of my eligibility and advised to avail of it.

“But like many young women I put it off for a couple of months before finally going for the test. When I tell you how grateful I am that I made the decision to have the test it is no exaggeration.

“It was lucky (yes Lucky) that I made the decision to have the test as they found abnormal cells. I dread to think what I may have been told if I had to wait until the age of 25 before being tested.

“After treatment and a few yearly smears everything is now fine and I am now in the normal 3 year test cycle.

“So from personal experience I can't encourage women strongly  enough to go get checked out...I can assure you the peace of mind is worth any embarrassment in having this potentially life-saving procedure.

"One in four women aged 25-64 don't get tested and this falls to 1 in 3 for 25-29 year olds.

“Smear tests prevent up to 75% of cervical cancers – the most common form of cancer in women under 35 - so it is concerning that so many women don't get tested.

“It is therefore extremely important that all eligible women are pro-active in getting appointments for their smear when invited to do so. It can save your life.” 

A local group called 'Team Sorcha' has also been leading a major campaign in calling for the screening policies to be changed in Northern Ireland, so they're available on demand.

The campaign was launched following the death of local woman Sorcha Glenn, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 23 from cervical cancer.

She requested a smear test in June 2013, as she felt something wasn't right, however, she was refused one as she was under the age of 25.

After continuing to request a test, she later secured one and was diagnosed with cervical cancer in September 2013 and passed away the following October.