A CHARITY boss has warned women not to listen to myths surrounding smear tests two years on from Scotland’s cervical screening incident.

Iona Stoddart, head of Scotland at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, urged women to educate themselves on cervical cancer and the smear test process as part of national cervical cancer awareness week.

As previously reported in the Glasgow Times, the week – which is due to begin on Monday – comes two years after it was revealed a woman died following an NHS area which wrongly removed hundreds of people from the smear test screening list.

Around 430 women were wrongly excluded over a 24-year period after it was thought they had received a total hysterectomy – where the cervix is removed which nullifies the need for further screening – when, in fact, the patients had received a “sub-total” operation, leaving the cervix or part of it behind.

The Scottish Government immediately apologised for the grave error and provided funding to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in order to ensure its helpline was fully prepared to support anyone in need.

Two years on, charity leader Iona said it continues to help raise awareness of myths and inequalities which stop people with cervixes from receiving the vital test.

Iona said: “Our work involves dispelling myths, including the belief that if you had the HPV vaccine in school you don’t need to have screening, and gathering insight on the barriers to screening and how we can reduce barriers.

“Through our focus groups, we have been told about a range of factors including getting childcare, difficulty getting time off work, fear and embarrassment, previous bad experiences of screening and trauma following sexual violence. Our work includes delivering awareness sessions in partnership with community organisations to provide information on all aspects of cervical cancer and HPV, and how the HPV vaccine and cervical screening help prevent cervical cancer.

“We also run cervical cancer prevention training for staff and volunteers at groups across the country. This training informs attendees about cervical health but also equips them to have conversations around screening, enabling them to share our potentially life-saving information with the women they encounter, and increasing the reach of our message.

“A further part of this work is sharing learnings for our community work with healthcare professionals to enable them to reduce barriers through their work too.”

As previously reported by the Glasgow Times, thousands of women were invited to additional screenings as part of an audit which came on the back of an investigation into the incident.

Samantha Dixon, the chief executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, urged people not to panic.

She said: "This audit is part of a wider piece of work ensuring that everyone eligible for cervical screening is being regularly invited.

"It might sound worrying but do remember cervical cancer is a rare cancer and the risk of developing it remains low."

Our Don't Fear the Smear campaign calls on all those eligible to have their screening to attend the appointment, while also pushing to decrease lengthy wait times for follow-up appointments.