Why SMS is Different

A new service with a new perspective

April 2008 saw the launch of a new private women’s health screening company in Altrincham, Cheshire. A further 3 clinics will be opening soon.

The new service is provided by SMS (Specialist Medical Services), who are specialists in all areas of women’s health.

SMS believe that a woman’s life stage is more important than her age in determining what health issues she might be facing and which tests might be appropriate to determine whether or not she needs any treatment.

“At SMS we really care about women’s health”, our services are provided by a team of leading Medical Consultants and Nurse Specialists.

Gill Hathaway, the Lead Women’s Healthcare Nurse at SMS offers 20 years of experience in health screening and leads a diverse team of specialist nurses offering innovative screening packages with the ability for direct referral to specialty Medical Consultants.

Specific medical areas include all aspects of gynaecology, early pregnancy and antenatal services, fertility assessment, sexual health, incontinence, cervical and ovarian cancer, menopause, osteoporosis and counselling.

What makes SMS unique?

Compared to other health screening services SMS offers an innovative approach, providing many products and services currently unavailable in other screening packages, for example:

• SMS have developed a series of screening packages designed around four women’s life stages. They are: Young, Free and Single; Career/Family Woman; Moving On/Grown Family; Menopause and Beyond. Each life stage presents a range of issues for women, some overlapping, but some distinctly different. Whether you are 18 or 80, there is an appropriate life stage package for you
  
• SMS services are designed by a team of leading consultants and Nurses with interests in all areas of gynaecological, sexual health, sub-fertility, menopause etc.

Types of new Service

• SMS is the first company to use a new cervical cancer assessment using the TruScreen cervical probe whereby results are immediately available (see further on)
• Ovarian Ageing Assessment – assesses your fertility status and time until menopause.
• SMS offers some products that allow home testing. Home testing can be a contentious issue as many tests advertised are not clinically validated. SMS has its own Medical Advisory board of eminent Medical Consultants who assess the best method for performing tests and how to use them e.g. most people remain unaware that there are different methods of testing for Chlamydia infection; some of these tests are not as accurate as others. SMS is aware of this and uses the most medically validated method. The same is true when testing for group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in pregnancy
• Osteoporosis testing is only performed using DEXA scanning again the most clinically proven screening method.

The SMS site is written by experts for women and contains information on all common medical conditions

When it comes to your health, it makes sense to be checked regularly. SMS offers a comprehensive range of body measurements, blood tests and examinations complemented by tests important for your life stage; the focus of the consultation differs because at each life stage your needs and concerns differ. SMS also offer a range of additional tests that you may wish to add to your screen based on either a particular concern, or symptoms that would justify further investigation.

Each package includes measurements such as blood pressure, Body Mass Index, body fat, and waist to hip ratio; blood screen to check for anaemia, diabetes, liver and kidney function and blood fats such as cholesterol etc; urine screen to test for infection, bladder and kidney problems and diabetes; breast consultation and examination including advice on how to be “breast aware”; a gynaecology consultation to discuss any history of problems or current concerns and cervical assessment.

SMS recognise that any treatment you are undergoing can be stressful and that having to depend on medical assistance can at times be reassuring, but at other times upsetting. SMS can therefore provide a counselling service which provides an opportunity to talk through feelings and emotions you may be experiencing during your treatment.

SMS are constantly seeking new technologies and protocols for their screening packages. Their latest innovation is to introduce the TruScreen cervical probe as part of their cervical screening programme. This gives a real-time reading of abnormalities of the cervix and is undertaken in addition to a conventional cervical smear. The results of the TruScreen test, when combined with the results of the standard smear test give an impressive accuracy of 93%.

A cervical smear test is never enjoyable however feedback from our patients has been very positive. Mrs P said, “This was the least invasive cervical test I have ever experienced. I can honestly say that I barely felt a thing. The technique they used was so comfortable. Plus, getting the results of the TruScreen test immediately was brilliant.”

SMS private screening packages are very affordable and they are currently offering their very accurate, stand alone, combined cervical smear test at just £100. Full details and package prices are available on their website or by contacting the number below.

Whatever your life stage, at SMS they believe that women’s health matters. Call them on 0845 290 3244 for advice and to book an appointment, or log on to www.smshealth.org for more information about women’s health.