HEALTH SCREENING
Health screening is an important check-up for men and women of all ages, to get on top of things before they become an issue. Throughout the year, our team supports and holds events that focus on Cervical Screening, Bowel Screening, and Breast Screening.
HOW WE CAN HELP
It’s normal for people to feel whakamā/shy about having a health screening. Our team is here to awhi and encourage those who are unsure and/or overdue for their health screening appointment. We can help with transport, assistance to make a booking, plus we can provide extra information and advice for whānau if they need it.
So if you or someone you know is due for a health screening and may be little apprehensive, or need some advice or information please give our Manaaki te Whānau team a call on 0800 775 001, we are here to help.
Bowel Screening
Bowel screening can help save lives by finding bowel cancer at an early stage which can often be successfully treated. Further investigation can also detect polyps (growths). These are not cancer, but they may develop into cancer over a number of years. Most polyps can be easily removed, reducing the risk that bowel cancer will develop.
The Bowel Screening Programme is a national bowel screening
programme for people aged 60 to 74 years. It aims to save lives
by finding bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be
successfully treated.
Doing your bowel screening test is quick, clean and simple. You do
it by yourself at home!
You can read all about the programme, and how to do the test on the Time to Screen-Bowel Screening website.
Breast Screening
If you are concerned about any changes to your breasts, please see a doctor or nurse at your practice. They can help you with a number of breast problems, like mastitis or pain, and refer you to a specialist if needed.
We also encourage women to have regular breast screening tests, which are used to find breast cancer early so that treatment can start and increase the chance of a full recovery. One in nine women in New Zealand get breast cancer.
BreastScreen Aotearoa is a national breast screening programme offering a free screening mammogram every two years for women who:
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are aged 45‒69 years
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have no symptoms of breast cancer
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have not had a mammogram in the last 12 months
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are not pregnant or breastfeeding
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are eligible for public health services in New Zealand.
You can read all about the programme, risks and benefits and how to register on the Time to Screen website. Or phone BreastScreen Aotearoa on 0800 270 200.
Cervical Screening
Your general practice offers free cervical screening to all eligible enrolled patients.
What is a cervical smear?
Having a smear test only takes a few minutes and
you can ask that it be done by a female nurse or doctor.
Some women find it uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t hurt.
A few cells are collected from your cervix using a spatula
(a thin, flat wooden instrument) and put into a solution for
testing in the laboratory. The cells are put under a microscope
to see if there is anything abnormal. It’s important to find
abnormal cells early so you can be given treatment before
the cells develop into cancer. If there is, your clinic will let
you know the next steps.
We encourage all women aged 20–69 years to have a cervical screening test every three years if the initial smear results are normal.
Read more about Having a cervical smear test.
The team at WRHN hold a weekly smear clinic for high priority wāhine, therefore if you are Maori or Pasifika, have not had a smear in over 5 years, or have not have a smear ever, please click the button below to book into the WRHN smear clinic. If you don't fit this criteria however are due for your smear, please contact your registered GP or nurse.