Our cervical screening clinics
We know how daunting, triggering and traumatic cervical screening (a smear test) can be for anyone who’s experienced sexual violence.
That’s why we’ve created a very different kind of clinic, just for you. It’s designed by survivors and specialist psychologists and healthcare providers, and it’s a friendly, welcoming, understanding space for you to spend time in.
Unlike GP appointments, our appointments last a full hour, giving you plenty of time to relax, meet the team and decide how you’d like to spend your session.
Our clinics are at Mile End Hospital for residents of England and Sandyford in Glasgow for Scottish residents only.
You’re welcome to come to our clinic if:
- Your experience of sexual violence was more than a year before your appointment. We’ll never require you to tell us about your experience – that’s totally up to you.
- Your cervical screening is due – you’ll have received a notification from your GP.
- You’re a UK resident (London clinic) or Scottish resident (Glasgow clinic only).
How to book
You can book an appointment here on our website.
We completely understand if you’re very anxious about your screen, but please do still come along to your appointment, even if you don’t think that you will be able to through with it. Our team will be happy talk everything through with you.
Remember – you don’t have to do the test on your first visit (or your second, or your third!) and no one will push you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. It’s your body and your appointment – we’re there to look after you and facilitate the test whenever you feel ready.
If you do need to cancel your appointment, please cancel it using the link in your confirmation email AND send us an email so we can try to reschedule your appointment.
If there aren’t any available or the date you want is already booked, you can add your name to our waiting lists. We’ll send you an automated email if there’s a cancellation. If you do get an appointment, please take yourself off any remaining waiting lists to keep appointments available for people who need them. Thank you!
What to expect
Our clinic is run by an all-female team, with a doctor, psychologists, nurses and volunteers all working to make you feel comfortable and empowered. Everyone is trained to work with people who have experienced sexual violence, so you can rest assured that they’re ready to understand what you’d like to do and how.
When you come to the clinic, we’ll settle you in our waiting area with tea, coffee and treats, with volunteers around to chat with or help you fill out a quick form. If you prefer, you can have a room to yourself for some peace and quiet.
Then, when you’re ready, you’ll get some one-on-one time with one of our lovely psychologists. Here you can talk about everything you need to tell us, from body positions you don’t like and places you don’t want to be touched, whether you would like to insert the speculum yourself, to phrases you’d prefer us not to use. We’ll honour all your requests. Our psychologist will offer grounding techniques to make the test easier for you, breathing exercises, and even aromatherapy, if you’d like it, and then our doctor will join you.
We completely understand if you’re very anxious about your screen, but please do still come along to your appointment, even if you don’t think that you will be able to through with it. Our team will be happy to talk everything through with you.
You don’t have to do the test on your first visit (or your second, or your third!) and no one will push you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. It’s your body and your appointment – we’re there to look after you and facilitate the test whenever you feel ready.
When your appointment is over, you can relax in our waiting area with a well-deserved cuppa and cake, for as long as you like, or head home right away. It’s entirely up to you.
After your test
The laboratory will send your results to you, and also to your GP.
Any questions? Here are our FAQs.