Expansion to cervical screening access in northern Adelaide
Residents in Adelaide’s north will benefit from improved access to cervical screening services, through a new dedicated clinic at Davoren Park.
Delivered in partnership with SHINE SA, the clinic will serve as a ‘Centre of Excellence’, building on SHINE SA’s existing Woodville and CBD clinics, and expand access to cervical screening and reproductive healthcare including contraception, HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) prevention, testing and treatment, and specialised training for healthcare providers across the state.
While cervical screening participation in South Australia has generally been on target, it is known the benefits of screening are not shared equally. Adelaide’s north accounts for 24 per cent of the state’s cervical cancer cases, with only 52.2 per cent of the Playford area participating in cervical screening, compared to the state average of 64.3 per cent.
Similarly, rates of syphilis and other STIs continue to rise in SA and nationally, disproportionately impacting some groups. Access to healthcare for prevention, early diagnosis and treatment is key to preventing the serious impacts of STIs, and to ending the Australian HIV epidemic by 2030.
This clinic is designed to meet people where they live, with an expanded workforce also trained to offer services that are inclusive and sensitive to a variety of social and cultural barriers.
We know that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and that most cases occur in those who have never screened or do not screen regularly.
Removing barriers and increasing access for underscreened South Australians is about health equity and is key to us working towards the nationally endorsed targets to eliminate cervical cancer.
The rate of cervical cancer in South Australia is 7.7 cases per 100,000 women - almost double the target of fewer than 4 cases per 100,000 women, a key step towards eliminating cervical cancer.
Clinical services commenced from Monday 14 July.
To find out more or to book an appointment, call 8300 5300 or visit the Davoren Park Clinic page on the SHINE SA website.
