British business are being urged to support women's health and their need for cervical cancer screenings, as the Time to Test campaign begins.
Health on Female First
10 British businesses and professional organisations including Intercontinental Hotels Group, global beauty brand Bare Escentuals and The Female Entrepreneur Association have become the first to sign a pledge showing their commitment to female employees having the flexibility to attend cervical screening during working hours if they are not able to get an appointment in their own time.
It is hoped more businesses will follow suit by signing up to support the pledge at www.time-to-test.com
The pledge is part of the Time to Test campaign, developed by GSK and supported by Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to supporting those affected by cervical cancer and abnormalities.
Statistics have shown that, apart from an increase in 2009, the uptake of cervical screening has either fallen or remained unchanged for the past decade. Around one in five women do not attend screening when invited and many delay it for more than a year.
More than a quarter of women would be encouraged to attend if their company was more flexible and they did not have to take holiday for an appointment.
The Time to Test campaign aims to make it easy as possible for women to start reversing that trend.
Josephine Fairley, co-founder of Green & Blacks Chocolate, health and beauty journalist and author, is supporting Time to Test. Say says: “I'm pleased as a woman and an entrepreneur to add my voice to this important campaign. It's in employers interests as well as women's interests to ensure we get tested. Caring for staff health should be a priority for every boss – and far better for everyone to find out if there's a problem at an early stage than wait until treatment may be lengthier and more challenging.”
Carrie Green, founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association, also supports Time to Test. She says:
“Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women under the age of 35 and earlier on this year I realised the impact of that fact when someone I knew lost her battle with the disease. All too often women put off going for a test, whether it's because of work commitments, family commitments, or because they just can't face going but it's something we all need to make time for. Time to Test supports women in making their health their number one priority and as a proud support of this pledge; I hope that many women will feel empowered to make the time to test. It could save your life.”
Around 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK and the disease causes around 970 deaths annually. Cervical screening aims to pick up and treat abnormal cells before they develop into cervical cancer and is estimated to save around 5,000 lives a year.
Jenny Croston, 38 from Leeds, is one person for whom earlier cervical screening could have made a big difference. She says: ““Prior to my diagnosis of cervical cancer I worked as a part time medical lawyer. I'd always considered myself as physically healthy so there was certainly an element of thinking that cancer would never happen to me. I wrongly presumed that a smear would be a waste of time, as, in my mind it would surely be negative.”
“As a working mum with two young sons, my time outside work was hugely precious and not something to 'waste' on things like visiting the doctor, particularly when I was feeling well. Although the firm I worked for would have had no issue with me taking time from work to attend a GP appointment, I always had work that seemed to be a priority. I believe if my employer had shone a spotlight on cervical cancer prevention like they had with, for example, the importance of eye tests, then I absolutely think I would have made it more of a priority.”
Robert Music, Chief Executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “The number of women delaying or ignoring their cervical screening invitation is now on the rise and worryingly cervical cancer incidence is also rising. We know from our research that a barrier to attendance can be being able to take time off work and so it’s crucial that employers ensure their female staff are given time to attend what is a simple five minute test that could potentially save their lives. We’re delighted that so many companies have already shown their commitment to cervical cancer prevention and hope that many more follow suit.”
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