Frome Medical Practice is urging patients who are due or overdue their cervical screening (or smear test) to book their appointments as soon as possible. Recent national press has suggested that patients are unable to book cervical screening with their local GP practice, but Frome Medical Practice has plenty of these appointments available.

Senior Partner, Dr Helen Kingston said, "Contrary to what has been reported in the national press recently, we have plenty of appointments available for women to come and have their cervical screens done at the practice. If you've received a letter to say you're due to have this done please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We know some women may be putting it off as they don't want to add extra pressure onto us for something they may feel is 'non urgent' but a cervical screen is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer and can be life saving." 

Nationally, one in three women and people with a cervix do not take up their screening invite, according to national charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust. Cervical screening is a free health test available on the NHS as part of the national cervical screening programme. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for a virus called high-risk HPV and cervical cell changes.

Karen Creffield, Practice Manager at Frome Medical Practice said, "We schedule cervical screening into our practice timetable every week, ensuring we have staff available to carry out these appointments. Some weeks these appointments don't fill up and yet we know we have patients who are due to get their screening done. Please don't put off making your appointments because you feel we may be too busy at the practice - we are really keen to see you." 

Cervical screening appointments can be booked online if you're registered to use the online booking system at Frome Medical Practice. Alternatively you can call the practice on 01373 301301. After 2pm is generally quieter and you can use the option for a call back, without losing your place in the queue, to save you waiting on the phone line when it's busy. 

For more information about cervical cancer visit Jo's Trust.