Popular cervical screening clinic reaches milestone

London, Ontario – Since launching its first Pop-up Pap Test Clinic in January 2024, St. Joseph’s Health Care London has delivered more than 500 cervical screening tests in six clinics – helping to address a significant gap in access to routine preventive care.

“We were testing the waters when we first launched this clinic and we didn’t know how many people would attend,” said Dr. Robert Di Cecco, Medical Director of St. Joseph's Colposcopy Clinic. “We quickly realized after the first clinic that there was a significant unmet gap. That’s why we plan to continue offering these clinics for the foreseeable future.”

While he is proud of the clinic’s success, Dr. Di Cecco says it is also an unsettling indicator of how many people are missing out on routine preventive care. In collaboration with the South West Regional Cancer Program, St. Joseph’s hosted its most recent pop-up clinic today (Jan. 16), where 97 individuals were tested who may otherwise have gone without screening.

Of those attending the clinic, the majority do not have a family doctor and about five per cent require a follow-up. He says the successful turnouts show a strong desire among people to take care of their health when barriers are removed.

“What makes cervical screening unique from other types of cancer screening is that we’re usually not finding cancer – we are preventing it,” explains Dr. Di Cecco. “Identifying abnormal cells before they become cancer is truly remarkable.”

And in the past year, the test has improved. Previously known as a pap test or pap smear, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) introduced a new human papillomavirus (HPV) test in March 2025 which better detects the virus responsible for most cervical cancers. To reflect the improved testing, the drop-in clinic is now known as ‘Pop up Cervical Check’ as no appointment is necessary. The only criteria to get tested is that an individual must be at least 25 years old and not had a pap test in three years.

Planning for the next Pop-up Cervical Check is already underway. 
 

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About St. Joseph’s Colposcopy Clinic

Colposcopy is a medical procedure used to closely examine the cervix, vagina, and vulva. A colposcope is a magnifying instrument used to inspect the tissues for any abnormalities or signs of cervical cancer. St. Joseph’s highly specialized Colposcopy Clinic provides cervical screening to individuals with abnormal pap results. Visits to the clinic are by referral from a health care provider in the community if a pap result or pelvic exam reveals abnormalities. Colposcopies are routinely completed within the clinic to identify abnormalities of the female reproductive tract, such as inflammation of the cervix and precancerous changes in the tissue of the cervix, vagina and/or vulva. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment is performed in the clinic to destroy or remove abnormal cervical tissue.

About St. Joseph’s Health Care London

Renowned for compassionate care, St. Joseph’s Health Care London is a leading academic health care centre in Canada dedicated to helping people live to their fullest by minimizing the effects of injury, disease and disability through excellence in care, teaching and research. Through partnership with Lawson Health Research Institute and our collaborative engagement with other health care and academic partners, St. Joseph’s has become an international leader in the areas of chronic disease management; medical imaging; specialized mental health care; rehabilitation and specialized geriatrics; and surgery.  St. Joseph’s operates through a wide range of hospital, clinic and long-term and community-based settings, including: St. Joseph’s Hospital; Parkwood Institute; Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care; and the Southwest Centre for Forensic Mental Health Care. Sjhc.london.on.ca.