Raising awareness of Women's Cancer Screening

Healthwatch Greenwich report on an event they held on International Women's Day to engage with women to highlight the importance of breast and cervical screening. They spoke to 34 women.

Among the women Healthwatch spoke to, awareness gaps were evident, particularly among recently migrated women. For others, trust in healthcare providers and systems is a key driver, with positive experiences encouraging future attendance. In addition, their children were a motivating factor for some. Negative experiences with GPs and hospitals (even when unrelated to screening) reduced the likelihood of women attending screening appointments. Some expressed fear of discomfort or pain, reducing motivation to take up screening opportunities, and women with mobility challenges faced physical barriers in accessing screening.