Cancer vaccine for girls at private hospital
A cervical cancer vaccine for young girls, that has yet to be made available under the NHS, can be accessed at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital - part of independent hospital provider Spire Healthcare.
A cervical cancer vaccine for young girls, that has yet to be made available under the NHS, can be accessed at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital - part of independent hospital provider Spire Healthcare.
The vaccine is administered in three doses and protects against the human papilloma virus (HPV). It is believed to reduce the incidence of genital warts by 90%, cervical cancer by 75%, other cancers of the genital tract and also of the oesophagus and some oropharyngeal cancers, the hospital claims.
Every year 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in Britain and three women under 44 die every day from the disease. Dr Tina Peers, consultant in contraception and sexual health, has set up a new clinic at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital to administer the vaccine and provide advice to women and the parents of girls aged 12 and over.
The benefits of this vaccine will be felt by women and their families for a long time,. she said. Although the government has recommended that the vaccine is available on the NHS for 11-12 year olds from next September there has been no announcement of a catch up programme so those girls aged between 13 and 24, who are most at risk will not receive treatment on the NHS..