Media playback is not supported on this device Late rush averts family tragedy
Parents and the children they’ve raised have given advice to the organisation behind a pioneering cervical screening scheme in Scotland – including keeping the needles away from young school children.
For many years, MPs and their doctors have called for cervical screening to be introduced into primary schools in Scotland.
Campaigners say that’s one way of detecting cases of cervical cancer in its early stages – potentially saving thousands of lives.
But until now, procedures have been carried out in the most unlikely of places.
The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) uses NHS colposcopy to diagnose early cervical cancer before it gets spread to other parts of the body.
The procedure is used for checking screening results and detecting abnormalities.
It involves cutting away cells to check for early signs of cancer in the cervix.
Overnight, women’s smear tests are re-checked in the central unit at the University of Glasgow.
Guidelines
Current advice for parents and kids is:
Keep needles out of reach of young school children.
Speak to your GP if your child has any of the following symptoms – but you should see them for a more in-depth check: