to not bother with a smear test

[setpieces]

I'm supposed to have them every 12 months due to abnormal cells.

I cannot get an appointment at my GP practice. They have offered me 3 dates I simply cannot do (I'm supporting a parent having an op the week before Xmas, Xmas eve (still with parent) and 2 Jan (away with kids). It took an hour of following hopeless website and booking referrals plus a phone call (engaged) and callback to get this far.

By the time I get the test (assuming calling back at the end of next week as requested is successful) it will be 2 months after I got the letter then another 6-8 weeks for the results.

I might as well wait for the condition to worsen and refer for treatment in 4 months time.

I’ve posted this twice but, hey Ho what’s to lose for a third time.

If you are in England @setpieces please use this! Many STI clinics offer smears. It’s simpler and easier to get appointments there than GP’s.

www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health-services/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

If the OP was paying she could get an appointment to suit her. And she would not need to take half a day off work just to try to make an appointment. She'd phone, speak to someone and offer a time she could do - maybe not immediately but convenient.

PS it is NOT free. We all pay for it via our taxes.

If you do that you'll get told you are being "aggressive". Especially if you are a woman.

Yes - it’s funded by those who work but you don’t pay to use the health service at point of contact or afterwards. Your medical costs based on how much you cost the health service might be zero one year and the next in the thousands but you paid the amount based on your salary not the cost of your medical care.

Who will support the parent if your condition worsens? If you cannot do it for yourself do it for your parent.

if it gets worse it could be catastrophic for all of you. Please get tested. It’s just not worth it.

oh and perhaps swap doctors… sounds rubbish.