Businesses across the UK are raising awareness for cervical cancer within the workplace.
Businesses such as GSK, Action for Charity, Middlesborough Council and NHS England are supporting the new Time to Test campaign, pledging to raise awareness of cervical cancer within their workplace and allowing female employees the time needed to attended smear test appointments.
The new campaign from Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has been created to raise awareness of cervical cancer, a preventable disease but one that claims three lives every day. The campaign, which has also been supported by GE Healthcare has seen sign ups from employers across a wide range of industries including NHS England, Illamasqua, Middlesbrough Council, GSK, Irwin Mitchell, Action for Charity, Pelican Healthcare Limited, APL Health, The & Partnership and Prospectus.
Recent research conducted by the charity has revealed that 39 per cent of women didn’t find it easy to leave work to attend cervical screening. The survey also revealed that of women aged 25 to 29, the age gap in which screening is at its lowest, one in three were too embarrassed to talk to their employers about screenings.
However, of those surveyed 26 per cent would be more encouraged to go to their smear test if their employer was more flexible and if they didn’t have to take holiday for the appointment.
Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said, “Worryingly the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer each day has recently risen from eight women to nine and the number of women delaying or ignoring their cervical screening invitation is also rising year on year.
“We know from our research that for working women a barrier to screening is accessibility. Through Time to Test we hope to encourage businesses to promote cervical cancer prevention and ensure female staff have the time to get tested.
“We are delighted that so many companies have already joined the campaign and hope many more follow suit. Cervical screening is a five minute test, but it is one that could save a life.”
To find out more about the Time to Test campaign, or to join, click here.
