To cancel cervical screening next week?

[Nicecupofcoco]

I have a routine smear booked next week, I've always had them when I've been called, and up to now no issues. I'm booked in for next week, I was unsure when I booked, but the receptionist at gp reassured me still going on as normal!
I'm quite anxious about the virus, should I cancel and rebook for afew months down the line, or am I being over cautious?

I went for mine last June as received a reminder following a cancelled appointment in April. Like you I was rather anxious but to be honest the experience was more reassuring and pleasant than in normal times. I was the only person in the waiting room, nurse worn full PPE, sanitised spray used, allocated santised basket if you need to place any belongings. The nurse couldn't thank me enough for attending as so many women are cancelling.

[quote Toddlerteaplease]@Babyroobs you will be nowhere near Covid patients. [/quote]
Yes I know this but am worried about others in the waiting rooms/ staff etc. I went for a Gynae appointment the other week and there were people in a closed waiting room with no masks on. Just seems like another risk to me. I have a CEV husband to consider.

I have mine on Monday, I am going. Please don't cancel. Everything will be in place to keep you safe. As a friend said -- you are definitely social distancing with this :)
Wear your mask, use hand sanitiser, and you will be fine.

I'm thinking of cancelling mine. My GP surgery won't be quiet... it's a massive building with two practices, dentist, physio etc. It's also a vaccination centre now. I'm worried about how busy it will be. I think it depends on the set up at your surgery.

I'm wondering about buying a self testing kit instead.

I'd postpone but then my personal risk level is low. If yours is high I'd suggest you attend, if not then postponing may be reasonable. Around here though surgeries are divided into "hot" (possible COVID) and "cold" (other stuff). If yours is done similarly then it should be fairly safe.

@tootyfruitypickle amazing news and just what I need to hear right now-thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼. What a rollercoaster, think I am finding the thought of recurrence harder to deal with than actual going through treatment. Wishing you an eternity of good health x

@Abkbjbjb. I had no recurrence. The NHS is bloody amazing. Take care of yourself xxx

I need to book one. It's way overdue. I'll go if you go OP 🙌

Don,t cancel. I am saying that as someone who is due one and has yet made the appointment. Don,t be like me and not get round to it.

And I know it’s anecdotal but in our medium sized practice we’ve had no staff Covid positive. We’re now doing twice weekly LFT and still no positives. We have had staff isolating at home with possible contacts but no actual cases in staff, clinical and non clinical.

I’ve had two negative antibody tests despite working throughout. So I haven’t been exposed or had it.

That would suggest our infection control policies are pretty robust, I’m really proud ☺️

The survival rate for Covid is higher than for cervical cancer. Please go x

I had mine in the last lockdown. Surgery was v quiet and clean, sanitiser dispensers everywhere, you had to ring the bell to be let in. The nurse was lovely and all masked up. She said a few women had cancelled or postponed despite assurances they didn’t need to. I’d go, the way things are you don’t know when you’ll get to go next!

I considered cancelling tbh but I had a LLETZ three years ago and wanted to be sure everything was ok in there!

Should have added I was all clear this time!!!

If it's just routine and you have no concerns then I'd cancel and go when the numbers are much lower. It's not urgent.

The problem with postponing is you run the risk of not getting a convenient appointment. Very soon the Covid vaccine programme is going to really ramp up in primary care.

Whilst routine work and screening is very unlikely to stop it may well be reduced as staff are redeployed to vaccination clinics.

Just something to bear in mind.

Just to update (incase anybody is feeling anxious and in the same boat during covid) I went, and only saw the nurse, felt very safe, the waiting room was empty, I tried to touch as little as possible and hand sanitised as soon as I got out! Thanks guys!

I had mine a few weeks ago. Same as you OP, surgerly was like a ghost town, only person I was in any proximity to was the nurse.

The screenings are really important and probably a lot of us have already had our checks delayed so I would urge everyone to go.

Absolutely go!! Its so safe in GPS surgery's.

I had mine tonight - I was the only patient in there.

This has made me think to rebook. I genuinely forgot mine in the chaos and thought I’d just wait. I might wait 3 weeks as being vaccinated in the next few days and cases are so high here.