On Saturday 27 September, South Cambridgeshire Integrated Neighbourhood Development Team, in partnership with the Melbourn Hub and Meridian Primary Care Network, launched our new cervical screening programme with a women’s health and wellbeing day at Melbourn Hub.
We are inviting women registered to participating GP practices, who are overdue or have never had their cervical screening, and may struggle to access their screening at their GP surgery, to come along to one of our clinics at Melbourn Hub over the next 6 months.
Appointments are set up so that women/people with a cervix attending will have the opportunity to have a relaxed, informal chat with the nurse beforehand. We have lots of information available in different formats and lots of visual tools, so that women/people with a cervix can come in and learn a bit about the process, ask questions, and build a bit of rapport with the nurses before having their screening appointment.
Our nurses work in a person-centred and trauma-informed way, and there is no obligation to go through with the appointment if at any point the person doesn’t feel comfortable, or changes their mind.
Our launch day on Saturday was a huge success, the turnout was fantastic, with 7 drop-in screenings completed and 11 women supported by our nurse with information, onwards referrals, and support. Plus, we had a range of information on women’s health and wellbeing support across South Cambridgeshire, and advice and guidance from our colleagues in the Meridian Primary Care Network’s personalised care team, health and wellbeing coaching team, and Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, as well as space to connect and relax in the cafe at the Melbourn Hub.
How to book
If you are interested in attending your screening appointment at one of the clinics at the Melbourn Hub, are eligible and are registered at one of our participating GP surgeries, you will receive a text message from your GP surgery inviting you to book your appointment, via an online booking link. If you have any questions, don’t have access to a smartphone to book your appointment, or unsure if you are eligible, you can contact our friendly Care Coordinators on cpicb.meridiancare@nhs.net.
Appointments are being held on Tuesdays, 1pm to 8pm, and selected Saturdays (8th November; 13th December; 31st January; 28th February; and 28th March), offering a selection of bookable appointments, and walk-ins on Saturdays.
Participating GP practices are Orchard Surgery (Melbourn), Roysia Surgery (Royston), Harston Surgery, Comberton and Eversden Surgeries, Monkfield Medical Practice (Cambourne), and Bourn Surgery.
