“Through my work in one of Ireland’s Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU) I provide responsive, holistic, patient-centred medical and forensic care, including on-site psychological support, for people aged 14 years and over who have experienced sexual violence,” explains Connie McGilloway, HSE Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Forensic Clinical Examiner, based in the SATU in Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

“In recent years we identified that many of the women attending our SATU in Donegal were either not up-to-date with their cervical screening, or had never been screened. Some women talk about feeling embarrassment, shame and guilt related to their experiences or they are fearful they will have to talk about the abuse with their GP or practice nurse. But by far the most common reason for not having a screening test was related to the nature of the test itself. We set up a project to provide cervical screening as an additional, follow-up service for women under our care.

“The aim of our service is to promote recovery and health for people who have experienced sexual violence. By offering women cervical screening at the SATU we are working to make screening accessible in a way that meets the needs of the women we see.”

Outlining how she sets out to achieve this, Connie explains that “for a woman who has suffered some form of unwanted sexual contact, the trauma of an intimate examination can be overwhelming. We consider everything - from how we touch the woman, to the words we use. We offer flexible appointment times after college or work. We can also offer more time with the woman. We’re gentle and go at the woman’s pace, gaining her consent for every step, sharing control of what happens and when. Our screened women also have a streamlined pathway to follow-up care in colposcopy, if needed.”

Connie further explains how her work is supported by CervicalCheck, the national, population-based cervical screening programme, and by Letterkenny University Hospital Gynaecological Service: “All our SATU clinical staff are registered sample takers with CervicalCheck, having completed the relevant accredited theoretical and clinical competencies. 

“Between 2018 and 2023, 72 eligible women participated in screening at the Donegal SATU. Of these, 17 women (24%) were referred for follow-up to colposcopy services. The close collaboration with gynaecological and colposcopy services at Letterkenny University Hospital has been key in meeting this need. In addition, recognition of this trauma-informed screening initiative is significant and is being rolled-out nationally in SATUs across Ireland.”

Comments from women who have attended cervical screening the Donegal SATU include: “I hadn’t gone for a test in 20 years, but knowing that someone would treat me the way they did would encourage me to go.” Another woman explained how she had never had a test before attending: “I knew the SATU team would look after me. I had to go to get a colposcopy which was so scary. The staff there were so kind even though my legs were shaking. They were really patient and didn’t put pressure on me.”

Connie concludes that “it is really good to know that our work matters to women, and by extension, to their families and their communities. It’s good to know too that our work is contributing to cervical cancer prevention.”