Women urged to take test

WOMEN in the Western Isles are being urged to go for their smear test when invited as part of this week’s Cervical Screening Awareness Week (June 13-19).

Angela Binnie, a local practice nurse, backed the call as she encouraged women not to ignore their invite as a smear test can help spot cervical cancer.

The potentially life-saving test takes just five minutes.

Recent statistics highlight that 72.6 per cent of eligible women in the NHS Western Isles have already taken their smear test.

A smear test checks the cells of a woman’s cervix – the neck of the womb – and is designed to pick up any changes so that they can be monitored or treated.

Angela said: ‘ We’re here waiting to help protect you from cervical cancer. I’ve done hundreds, if not thousands, of smear tests.’

For more information visit www.getcheckedearly.org.