| March 2010 Quarterly Meeting Notes |
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March 2010 Theme: Women’s health Venue: Paddington Arts
BME Health Forum Steering Group Members: From left to right: Lev Pedro (K&C Social Council), Ziaur Rahman, BME HF Chair (QPBA), Melissa Berry (CLCH), Isis Amlak (MRCF) Shami Begum (QPBA) chaired the meeting in place of Ziaur Rahman (BME Health Forum Chair) to honour International Women’s day.
During lunch there was a screening of ‘Unsung Heroines’, a short documentary film detailing the lives of three Moroccan Women who migrated to Britain in the 1980’s, made by Al Hasaniya’s Moroccan Women’s project.
Item 1: Launch of the GPAW programme’s two new publications ‘Good Practice Guide to Interpreting’ & ‘NHS Fact cards’. Isis Amlak MRCF (Project coordinator of the Good Practices for Access & Well-being Programme
Isis introduced the two new BME Health Forum publications that have been produced within the Good Practice for Access & Well being (GPAW) programme. Isis Amlak
English language version of the Good Practice guide produced by WSPM AGAPE community group.
Item 2: Presentation: Women’s Health and Equality Consortium (Lorraine Dongo)
The Women’s Health and Equality consortium is one of 17 strategic partners working with the Department of Health to tackle different equality strands. The consortium is a partnership of women’s organisations tackling women’s issues.
£1.2 billion is the cost to the NHS per year of addressing injuries from violence against women.
So why has the Gender Equality Duty not been used effectively and how can we use the Gender Equality Duty to improve services?
The move away from grant funders to commissioning has caused a lot groups to shut down. We have to now work with commissioners.
What are the Challenges? In Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster there is a 12 year gap between the highest life expectancy and the lowest. BME communities live predominantly in the deprived areas and ¾ live in social housing.
Health awareness information is not targeted at BME communities. Because the population is shifting constantly it is up to the voluntary and community sector to provide the information to the PCTs because they do not have adequate information.
We also need to look at the social determinants of Health. What stress related problems do specific jobs create? Also housing how will living conditions effect women’s health.
Lorraine Dongo (Women’s Health & Equality Consortium)
When looking at Women’s health we need to look at all the social determinants of health.
We should also look at the London Health and Equality Strategy and ask ourselves how relevant is it to Women’s health in our communities? If the statutory sector doesn’t have the relevant information they will not engage with that agenda. We need to work in partnership with the PCTs and get the relevant information to them.
Item 3: Presentation: Westminster Domestic Violence Forum (Carmel Traynor)
This is an important year for Women’s services in the areas of Legal issues and Prevention strategies.
In February 2010 some interesting facts were collected. Of 32 boroughs in London, Westminster suffers the most per thousand of cases of domestic violence. One quarter of 16-59 year olds experienced stalking. Then there is the issue of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) which is under reported. There is also an increase in forced marriages and sex workers are at risk of sexual assault.
7% of 16 59 year olds are victims of Domestic Violence.
A government strategy was produced in November 2009 which accepts the cost and implications of these types of abuses and violations by setting them down in a government document.
The strategy includes using the 3P framework:
How do the figures and statistics collected relate to BME communities?
There is of course a problem with having a generic approach to services. We are trying to capture numbers in terms of BME communities but it is not easy.
74,000 women in the UK have undergone FGM with a further 7,000 at risk.
In the Domestic Violence Forum we do want greater representation from BME women.
This year was the first year that Westminster took part in the Million Women Rise March earlier this month.
In Westminster it seems to be very easy for many women to remain hidden.
We need to deliver a statement of needs and demands.
As there is a growing number of cases of violence against men we are moving towards the term: Gendered violence and abuse.
Q&A
Question: How do you reach out to and identify women in need?
Answer: One way is to provide women only spaces. We need to ask ourselves why so many women do not come forward. We need to take into account whether people are aware of confidentiality, the problem of language barriers
Question: Regarding ‘Women only spaces’ How will we then bring the men on board? For example with FGM, many women say no but what do you do if the men won’t marry their girls? Answer: Yes, we must build awareness beyond women only spaces. We must not isolate men but bring them with us. This is very important to effect change.
We must not ignore the fact that there are times when we need to have a space where men and women are to be brought together.
Item 4: Presentation : Cancer Screening Services (NHS Westminster)
Cervical Screening Judith Walker
We want to improve the uptake of Screening services. There is a common misconception about Cervical screening that it is a test for cancer. It is not a test for cancer but rather a test for the early warning signs.
Cervical cancer is a rare disease it is currently 11th out of the top cancers. 80% of cervical cancers are in the developing world. It is not prevalent in the UK. It is a sexually transmitted cancer that develops from the human papilloma virus (HPV). 4/5 women will catch HPV it is an indiscriminate virus this is why it should concern every woman in this room as there will most definitely be some women who have not had a smear test.
The screening test:
Women should allowed to insert the speculum themselves if they feel more comfortable.
If women feel dissatisfied with the service they need to complain to PALs.
We need to know what women’s experiences are so that we can find out what’s wrong with the service and see if there is more that can be done to encourage higher numbers of women to attend.
Breast Cancer Screening Hazel Brodie
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and 1 in 9 women contract it. The cancer is developed by the way your hormone levels (Oestrogen) interacts with you breast tissue.
Currently women are invited for Breast cancer screening from age 50 70. This is because the risk of getting breast cancer is significantly higher after the age of 50.
The test:
Invitation letters are sent out to 50 70 year olds every 3 years and at any time after a woman has missed an appointment she can request another appointment.
Women who develop cancer after the menopause should no longer be dying of breast cancer. If all women attended screening every 3 years then the cancer would be found in time for effective treatment.
Prevention
We are getting pharmacies to promote Breast screening services. We are also calling women who are overdue.
We are hoping to develop a programme with community organisations to promote the service.
Q&A
Question: Is it true that Black and Asian women are more likely to die of breast cancer? Answer: There is more than one type and there is a type that affects the black community to a higher degree. However, again, if it is detected early the treatments are more likely to work. It is a fact that there is a lower uptake of screening services in more deprived areas and BME groups are more likely to live within these areas.
Question: Translated letters should be sent out. More needs to be done than just acknowledge the language barrier. Should language need not be a box to be ticked when registering with a GP?
Answer (Brian Colman NHS Westminster): It is a big task and unfortunately there is no guarantee that even if the GPs have that info that it will be shared with the right people. In the meantime what needs to be done is to raise awareness and knowledge by working with the community in the way the GPAW programme has done. The Good Practice to Interpreting guide to Interpreting which be sent out to all GP practices along with NHS Westminster’s Interpreting pack.
Question: In Westminster is there a mobile screening unit? This might be a good way to reach out to communities. Answer: Mobile units have been used before but the feedback was that most women would rather have the test done in a hospital. Perhaps it might be good to bring it back to those areas where there is a low uptake.
Comment- regarding Cervical smear tests: speaking to a lady from the Somali community I found that women would feel better about attending if the test took place in a more anonymous place like a hospital where they are unlikely to meet with the particular health professionals again. They feel exposed and embarrassed in the GP setting.
Answer: Yes we are trying to give women the option of having it done in a separate clinic so they don’t necessarily have to have it done at their GP practice.
Question: Is it necessary to have the cervical smear test if you have only ever had one partner your husband. Answer: There is a misconception that it is only for women who have had more than one partner. In actual fact it only takes one partner to transmit the virus and the virus could lie dormant for years.
Question: What about the HPV vaccination that is being offered to teenagers at the moment?: Answer: At the moment the vaccination only prevents 2 types of HPV which are most prevalent in western Europe. Also, we are not 100% sure how long it works for so these women will still need to go for their smear tests.
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