Where, other than my GPs surgery, can I have a smear?

[TrixieFranklin]

I've been asking my doctors surgery for a smear for months now and it's just not happening.
I was pregnant earlier in the year when the letter came through so I phoned and they said I could have one 12 week after the birth. I phoned 10 weeks after hoping to book in for a few weeks later and they said they would call back but I heard nothing. I went in 3/4 weeks later and asked again and they said they'd have to get the nurse to call me to book it in - never happened. Went in again last week (16 weeks after my initial request) and explained what had happened and that i would really appreciate being booked in and again I was fobbed off.

They have posters in the waiting room emphasising the importance of having it done.

Am I being impatient? Is there anywhere else I can go to have one without changing surgeries (they're usually excellent).

We've recently had a shock serious cancer diagnosis in the family (very young child and stage 4) so I'm possibly being over sensitive here.

I recently got one done in my local GUM clinic. Didn't have to pre book just went to the walk in clinic and requested one. Told them I'd had a letter requesting I get one done but they didn't ask to see the letter. Worth going in at the start of the session though as can be a bit of a wait if, they get busy.

Family Planning clinics used to do them.

I've had this problem, had been going to my local FPC for mine for years and then they closed it down. Tried for months to get an appointment with the nurse at my surgery, kept being told they could only book so far in advance and were fully booked til the cut off point. It took another few months of ringing on the day new appointments were released to finally get one, think my smear was about 18 months overdue by then!

My advice would be to contact the practice manager, their system for call backs/booking appointments is obviously not working and the more people who point it out the more likely they are to change it. Ask how the practice manager suggests you get an appointment for this time and how you can avoid the same issue in future, hopefully it will prompt them to sort the system out. Good luck!

Family planning clinic, sexual health clinic, GUM clinic etc all usually do them.

Have you looked on the NHS site? Normally if you put your postcode in you can find local services. I know my local hospital sexual health service do them so try there? Did you not get a letter/leaflet advising where you can go? We get this from my Dr's.

Our fancy new GUM/contraception clinic don't, the old GUM at the hospital used to, as did the FPC but they closed both and spent a fortune on the new place, which doesn't

Bupa do them if you want it done quickly. No need for a referral.

Ooh yes I'd forgotten, some of the 4D scan places have started doing them, only the odd one but worth checking if any in your area do. Not cheap, think it was about £60 or £70 if I remember rightly but thought it was worth a mention. Can probably dig the name of the place I found out if you happen to be West Midlands area, think it was Sutton Coldfield.

Thank you so much, very helpful!
When I got the letter I was pregnant so didn't keep it or look at it in enough detail to see if it listed clinics, I assumed it would be easy enough at the doctors. I will google local clinics! Thank you.

@Hidingtonothing I'm in Dorset but thank you!