Reviewing your cervical screening history

You have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and will either be due to receive treatment shortly or have completed your treatment.

This leaflet is to make you aware there will be a review of your cervical screening history up to the point when your cervical cancer was diagnosed.

What is the National Cervical Cancer review?

The purpose of this review is to monitor the effectiveness of the National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme and to identify both areas of good practice and areas where improvements can be made.

All cases of cervical cancer will be reviewed and information gained will help improve the organisation of the programme and also obtain a better understanding of the development of cancers and how they are diagnosed.

The review will not in any way affect the care you will receive from your doctors.  All information collected from the review is confidential and will be shared with the National Cervical Screening Programme on an anonymous basis. This means your name and address will not be included.

What does the review involve?

All letters inviting you to come for screening, cervical screening tests, result letters and any previous medical investigations related to cervical screening are looked at by healthcare professionals or doctors who work in the laboratory or in colposcopy. They also check your screening history meets national guidance. This information will not be shared with anyone not entitled to see it.

What will the review show?

In most cases, the review will show the correct procedures have been followed and you received the right care. Sometimes the review may find one or more steps in the process have not worked as well as they should and may highlight where we could make improvements.

Can I see my results?

The results of your review will be available in a few months time. Please let us know if you would like to receive the results of the review of your screening history when it is available.

If you wish to receive the review findings, you will be offered an appointment with your consultant to discuss the review results and ask any questions you may have.

If there is anything you do not understand about this review or if you would simply like to discuss it in more detail, please let us know and we can arrange an appointment for this.

You may also wish to discuss this with your close family or friends, GP or nurse specialist.

If you know the name of your consultant or nurse specialist, please ask for him or her and they will be able to discuss it with you. If they are not available when you ring they will call you back at a time that is convenient for you.

What if I do not want to know the results of the review?

It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to know the results of the review. It will not make any difference to your care.

What if I do not want to know the results of the review now but change my mind later?

We understand this is a difficult time and you may not want to know the results of the review now. If you decide you do want to know the results in the future, please contact your hospital doctor, who will discuss the review with you.

Can my family ask for the results if I do not want to know?

Unless you give permission, we cannot give your relatives access to any details of your medical records.

Could my cancer have been found earlier?

In many cases the cancer will have been detected at the earliest possible stage. Although cervical screening prevents a high percentage of cervical cancers (about 3 out of every 4) it cannot prevent all of them. The review process aims to highlight any possible areas of weakness so we can make improvements for everyone. Some examples are given on the next page.

Screening cannot always identify abnormal cells on a cervical sample slide because:

• sometimes the cells do not look much different from normal cells

• there may be very few abnormal cells on the slide

• the person reading the slide may miss the abnormality (this happens occasionally, no matter how experienced the reader is).

Colposcopy (a visual examination of the cervix) cannot always identify abnormal areas of the cervix because:

• the abnormal area might not be visible during the examination

• the abnormal area might not be taken as a sample in a biopsy

• the abnormal cells might be hidden higher up inside the cervix

• some types of abnormality are simply not easy to identify at a colposcopy.

Contact numbers

University Hospital of North Tees

Colposcopy CSPL Lead
Women’s and Childrens Services
3^rd Floor
North Wing
University Hospital of North Tees
Hardwick
Stockton-on-Tees
TS19 8PE
Telephone:  01642 624213
Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm

Further information is available from:

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust

A registered charity dedicated to women, their families and friends affected by cervical cancer.

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
CAN Mezzanine
49 – 51 East Road
London
N1 6AH
Telephone: 020 7250 8311
Telephone helpline: 0808 802 8000
Monday – Friday, opening hours vary, depending on volunteers
or via the website at www.jostrust.org.uk
e-mail [email protected]

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]