IOM Anti-Cancer Association are celebrating 50 years of the Staywell Clinic during 2014 and would like to bring the Staywell Staff and Volunteers past and present together to celebrate this fantastic milestone.
During 2014, IOM Anti-Cancer Association are proud to be celebrating 50 years of providing cervical screening on the Island, and would like to get in touch with anyone involved with the Staywell Clinic over its history.
Cervical screening was introduced on the Isle of Man in 1964, and with the introduction of cervical screening, IOM Anti-Cancer Association also started the Staywell Clinic to complement the service provided by the doctors’ surgeries. The Staywell Clinic offered women the chance to attend a female-staffed clinic outside of the usual working hours, to encourage more women to take up the offer of a cervical screening test.
If you have been a Doctor, Nurse or Volunteer Receptionist for the Staywell Clinic in the past, we’d love to hear from you! We’d also like to hear from anyone involved from the Pathology Department, especially at the old Noble’s Hospital, who has liaised with the Staywell Clinic. Please contact the Staywell Manager, Carole Cowin, on 01624 628686.
IOM Anti-Cancer Association are delighted that the Staywell Clinic continues to be a popular choice for women attending cervical screening. Speaking at the recent IOM Anti-Cancer Association AGM, Staywell Manager Carole Cowin spoke about the importance of providing the Staywell Clinic:
“Cancer Research UK tell us that cervical screening is estimated to save 5,000 lives per year in the UK! The Staywell Clinic has been in operation for 50 years, and provides cervical screening for up to 20 women per week – just think of the impact such a service will have had over this time on the fight against cervical cancer.”
Cervical screening on the Island is currently available for women aged 25 – 64, and eligible women should be sent an invite letter from the Department of Health & Social Care when they are due to attend screening. The leaflet enclosed with the invite letter gives details of how to contact the Staywell Clinic to make an appointment for a cervical screening test. The test takes only a few minutes to complete, but it is the best way of detecting early changes to the cervix (which could lead to cervical cancer) before any other symptoms are noticeable.
The Staywell Clinic is just one of the services IOM Anti-Cancer Association is involved in on the Island as part of its work against cancer. It costs the Association approximately ?15,500 per year to provide the Staywell Clinic, ensuring that cervical screening is accessible to reduce the barriers for women attending.
For more information about the work of IOM Anti-Cancer Association, please contact our Executive Officer on 252725 or visit our website www.iomaca.org.im.
