A Letterkenny-based advanced nurse practitioner has increased cervical screening rates among sexual assault survivors through a trauma-informed care approach.
Connie McGilloway, Forensic Clinical Examiner at the Donegal Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in Letterkenny, developed a tailored cervical screening follow-up clinic in the SATU after noticing many women attending the unit had never been screened or weren’t up to date with their appointments.
The follow-up clinic for survivors helps them to feel safe and more comfortable with cervical screening.
This special care has led to more colposcopy referrals, showing the need for the service.
Marking Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (20 January – 26 January), the HSE’s CervicalCheck programme is highlighting how screening is now even more accessible to all eligible women.
Connie McGilloway said:“Since 2017, our SATU follow-up clinic has been providing cervical screening to women in a trauma-informed, non-judgmental environment where they feel safe. Our work is supported by CervicalCheck and Letterkenny University Hospital gynaecological service.
“When we discuss screening, some women talk about feeling embarrassment, shame and guilt related to their experiences; or they are fearful they will have to talk about the abuse with their GP or practice nurse. But by far the most common reason for not having a screening test was related to the nature of the test itself. For a woman who has suffered some form of unwanted sexual contact, the trauma of that intimate examination can be overwhelming.
“We consider everything from how we touch the woman to the words we use, and offer flexible appointment times after college or work. We give more time for the test, going at the woman’s pace, gaining her consent for every step to share control of what happens and when.
“The need for the service is reflected in the fact that we have a higher-than-average number of women who have a subsequent referral for follow up in colposcopy. The reason for that could be lack of early detection, the fact they haven’t had a test before. Women tell us afterwards if they knew they would be looked after that way during the test they would’ve had one earlier.”
The most effective action women aged 25 to 65 can take to prevent cervical cancer is to #ChooseScreening and come for follow-up appointments if advised. Women can go to any GP practice or clinic registered with CervicalCheck for their free screening test. Women do not need to be registered with a GP practice to request a screening test from them.
More than 4,000 healthcare professionals across the country provide CervicalCheck screening across a range of community and healthcare settings, including some of Ireland’s Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs).
CervicalCheck offers HPV cervical screening every three years to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 29; and every five years to those aged 30 to 65 years. Cervical screening is for women who do not have any symptoms of cervical cancer. Never ignore symptoms of cervical cancer, speak to your GP, even if you have had a recent normal screening result.
For more information about cervical screening and to check you’re on the cervical screening register, go to www.hse.ie/cervicalcheck or call Freephone 1800 55 45 45 or contact info@cervicalcheck.ie
