"Successful smear test"

Months became years of putting off having this test. I watched as the reminders came through in the post at intervals, always with purely clinical information in a formal, dry format. One day I saw the banner “don’t fear the smear”. I thought to myself, “I do fear the smear” - due to various factors including unfortunate life experiences and also insensitive clinical staff at a practice in a different city, and because mostly I have found it to be painful. The banner got me thinking however that I did need to get up to date. What to do? When speaking with my GP on another matter I remembered about this and explained my dilemma, that I wanted to have the test but found it painful so didn’t know what to do. Luckily the GP was very sympathetic, giving me brilliant advice. The suggestion was that I book a double appointment to allow more time, and with a particular (named) nurse because they were especially patient and kind. I did exactly as the GP said. Having the double appointment was important because I needed more time to breathe and do my best to relax myself, and having someone patient and kind was essential because it was emotional and I needed the support of a listening ear, someone who was calm and in no way rushing me, nor making me feel I “had” to get it done there and then. We finally were successful. I was very relieved, and grateful. I also came away thinking that if the NHS want to increase uptake of this test they need to change their strategy. Ask women (with empathy and no judgement) why they are not getting the test and what would help them to do so. If necessary allow them to book an appointment (phone or face to face) purely to discuss the test, without any suggestion of their having to have it in the same appointment. Don’t let women be “done to” - educate women about what is involved in a way that works for them and incorporates an opportunity to talk about their feelings and what is bothering them. Case in point: it took me about 25 years, until that appointment, to realise that speculums come in different sizes!! The test was successful because the nurse used the smallest one, and I only knew this because we worked together and discussed things as we went along. Thank you to my GP and the nurse in question.