In the UK, there are 13.9 million people with a disability – about 56% are women and most have impaired mobility.
While the charity acknowledged many examples of good care, its report – based on an online survey of 335 women with a physical disability – says disability should not be a barrier to basic healthcare, such as screening.
The women featured in the report had disabilities including spinal muscular atrophy, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, paraplegia, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and cerebral palsy.
Wrong assumptions
Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be passed on through sexual contact.
But many physically disabled women said it was assumed they were not sexually active and so not at risk.
Others, including Jo Moss, who has chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME, and fibromyalgia complained about the lack of alternatives on offer.
“My condition means that I cannot sit or stand for more than five minutes without pain or dizziness and I am therefore unable to leave my bed,” she said.
Jo assumed it would be possible to organise a home visit for screening, as she does for dental care and injections – but she was told it was not possible.
Only after numerous letters to her GP did a nurse finally agree to a test at home – after eight years.
“It shouldn’t have taken me eight years to finally have the test nor should it be the case that you can’t access screening because of your condition or disability,” she said.
‘This must change’
Cervical screening prevents 75% of cervical cancers from developing, yet screening uptake in the UK is at a 21-year low.
All women aged 25-64 should be invited for an appointment by letter.
A small sample of cells is then taken from the cervix and tested for abnormal changes that can turn into cervical cancer.
Robert Music, chief executive of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said he was “shocked by the inequality that exists in accessing cervical screening across the UK”.
“It is not acceptable that women with a physical disability are often faced with additional hurdles or even being denied access to this potentially lifesaving test,” he said.
“It is worrying to see the level of stigma that exists regarding sex and disability and this must change.”
Chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, said there was an “urgent need” to invest in practice buildings to make them accessible for people with disabilities.
“It is vital that the forthcoming comprehensive spending review includes significant commitments to improving general practice premises,” she added.