A bespoke campaign to encourage the uptake of cervical screening appointments has been issued by NHS England Wessex. The creative illustrates a number of important invitations, ending with an invite to a cervical screening appointment. It was developed with input from a series of focus groups with females across key target areas. You can view the full poster here.

The posters are now on display in female washrooms at shopping centres, bars and nightclubs in key locations across Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth. A series of audio ads are also running across digital streaming sites, specifically targeting females up to the age of 40 who live across Wessex.

To support the campaign a dedicated website has been created, giving lots of detail on cervical screening but also on other forms of healthcare screening as well. Take a look for yourself at: dontmissout.nhs.uk 

The campaign aims to reverse the trend in declining cervical screening uptake rates, which is the case not only in Wessex but also nationally. The current screening coverage in Wessex is 73.5%, against a target of 80%. Females aged 25-29 have the lowest uptake levels.

“It is estimated that cervical screening saves approximately 4,500 lives per year in England,” says Nikki Osborne, Head of Public Health for NHS England Wessex.

“But there’s still much more that can be done. Cervical cancer remains the most common cancer in women under 35. Having regular cervical screening offers the best protection against developing cervical cancer. Regular screening means that any changes can be spotted and treated early. Early treatment is very effective at preventing cancer developing.

“So when an invitation letter arrives, we urge you to ensure that you attend your cervical screening appointment. Don’t miss out!”

Find out more about cervical screening here. And to find out more about the Cervical Screening Incentive Scheme currently being rolled out across Wessex, you can download the project poster here.