For Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2024 (22-28 January), we spoke with Orla Loftus, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Knock Medical Centre in Co. Mayo and a recipient of the Irish Healthcare Award for Practice Nurse of the Year 2021
By Hannah Molloy, Communications Team, National Screening Service
Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Mayo woman Orla Loftus remembers a time before Ireland had a cervical screening programme. A time when there was very little awareness of cervical cancer; when screening was “haphazard, and the results took ages”. The introduction of CervicalCheck in 2008 was, she says, an uplifting moment: “To have it for the women we serve and care for… because the bottom line is – cervical screening prevents cancer.”
Orla, who is a registered sample taker with CervicalCheck, began her nursing career in 1997 when she joined her father’s GP practice in Crossmolina Co Mayo. She says her father, Dr Michael (Mickey) Loftus, inspired her to take up a role in caring for women in her community.
She completed a Masters in Women’s Health from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in 2005, learning more about HPV and cervical screening along the way. Orla says that being a sample taker is an opportunity to put the core values of nursing – compassion, care, and commitment, into practice. “Being on the front line, face to face with women, is a special and important place to be. General practice is the ideal place to provide most cervical screening. It means women can access screening locally with someone they know.”
When the cervical screening programme was introduced Orla says her practice at Knock Medical Centre “took it and ran with it. I’ve been working in practice for 26 years. I understand my patients and take a holistic approach in providing care. Some of the patients I vaccinated when they were babies are now coming to me for cervical screening. It’s a privilege and opportunity as part of an ongoing therapeutic relationship to be able to offer our patients cervical screening.”
Orla says that she aims to make the screening process as normal as possible for people. “That first screening consultation can lead on to so much more. It’s so important to give that extra time to show a woman the instruments we use and let her know that you can stop the screening any time she wants you to, especially if women find the idea of screening daunting. The patient can learn to trust you if they have a good experience.”
CervicalCheck, she says, supports her to do her work. “It’s an evidence-based, high-quality programme. From a general practice point of view we have everything we need – an accessible website, IT systems, disposable supplies, information leaflets and literature. This makes it easier for sample takers to do our job and these benefits pass along to the women who come for screening.”
CervicalCheck’s sample taker education and training programme has helped her to explain the benefits and limitations of screening to her patients in a clear way. “It’s a complex consultation and you don’t want to overwhelm people. We’re supported to explain the benefits and limitations and to explain how results will be communicated and what happens next.”
Following work as a facilitator for an Irish College of General Practitioners training course, Orla completed CervicalCheck’s ‘experienced sample taker’ training course. She encourages other practitioners to check out the Screening Training Unit’s training offerings. “Refresher training is always good. Doing the training reassured me and reinvigorated my practice. I would encourage everyone, new or experienced, to use the education resources available from CervicalCheck.”
Talking about Ireland’s target to eliminate cervical cancer, Orla says “It’s exciting to be part of elimination. The progress with HPV vaccination has been wonderful and my two daughters have benefited from it.”
For Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, Orla’s message to women is simple: “Cervical screening prevents cervical cancer. We’ve come so far with screening compared to when I started in 1997. If you’re due your cervical screening, make that appointment. Come and talk to us, even if you’re not ready to come for screening. The opportunity is there to talk to your nurse or GP, and we’re happy to answer all your questions.”
- Find out more about cervical screening.
- Check the CervicalCheck register to find out when their next cervical screening test is due and make sure your address and contact details are up to date so that you can receive your invitation and results letters.
- The CervicalCheck Screening Training Unit provides high-quality education and training for all healthcare professionals involved in delivering a cervical screening service.
- Learn more about Ireland’s target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.