Timing for smear

I've never heard this.  What if you don't know when your period will be - some people are pretty irregular?  Or if you can't get an appointment that week?

Like Victoria, I go to my FPC as well - found them a HUGE improvement over GP surgery for any female issue.  We've just switched surgeries, though, so maybe this one will be better.

I've never heard this. 

Me either.  I had my first one here done within the last month & my local GP office said nothing about it needing to be done at any particular time.

my FPC told me it had to be at a certain time....

and oh my, how rough the nurse was. i literally felt violated and would NEVER go there aagin!

and oh my, how rough the nurse was. i literally felt violated and would NEVER go there aagin!

i'd complain.  in writing.  i'm starting to get some really effective results from this - thousands of pounds worth, too.

really?  It was ages ago! (like last summer)

A smear is never a fun experience, but the nurses at my GP have been very efficient and business-like about it. I appreciate that because even at my age when I ought to be over it by now, I go through agonies of embarrassment over the whole process.

I had to have a smear redone a year or two back for 'insufficient materials' caused by it being the wrong time of the month. But no one mentioned to me beforehand that it's better at certain times. They don't tell you much, these NHS folks, other than if you're 15 minutes late you lose your appointment.

I've never heard this. What if you don't know when your period will be - some people are pretty irregular? Or if you can't get an appointment that week?

I am one of those irregular monthly cycle people and when I call to book anything related to that area whether it's a smear or ultrasound (for other reasons) they always ask the period question.  I was informed by my local GP just to tell them that I don't have regular cycles or don't menstrate on my own.  Then they just book it in! Never been much of a hassle, really.

Also, I may be pretty thick here but what is FPC?

FPC= family planning clinic

FPC= family planning clinic

Ok, thought it might be something along these lines. I know nothing about this... could someone fill me in on the who, what, when, where of trying to find one of these?

Ok, thought it might be something along these lines. I know nothing about this... could someone fill me in on the who, what, when, where of trying to find one of these?

Many larger cities and towns have these.  They treat women of all ages, not just those in child-bearing years, and provide treatments like smear tests, birth control services, sexual health counselling, etc.

I started going there b/c my former GP surgery was crap and there was NO way I was going to have either of those two quacks coming near me.  I've so far seen two very competent, female doctors - one was the lady who delivered Aillidh (she was a forceps delivery so needed an OB). 

Ok, thought it might be something along these lines. I know nothing about this... could someone fill me in on the who, what, when, where of trying to find one of these?

Just google or contact your local health authority.  If you are in London, I recommend here http://www.margaretpyke.org   I use the one in Margaret Street.

Vicky

Do you need a referral from you local GP or can you basically just ring up and book yourself an appointment?

Do you need a referral from you local GP or can you basically just ring up and book yourself an appointment?

you can ring up and book an appointment.  i did.  my GP was crap and wouldn't have given me a referral if i'd been bleeding buckets.

My GP is right next door to my flat.  So unless I have a serious problem with them, which I don't, I'll use my GP for everything, just for the convenience.

Just google or contact your local health authority. 

You'll need to contact the Primary Care Trust for your area, the strategic health authorities rarely have a clue about services provided to the community (I work for one), they just make sure the targets are hit !

http://www.nhs.uk/  You can search via this website to find them, it can be a useful website, especially once the Choose and Book if brought in fully and you can pick any hospital you want for treatment.