JADE Goody’s high profile struggle with cervical cancer has created a life-saving legacy across Epping Forest according to health bosses.
The reality TV star who lived in Upshire with her husband Jack Tweed has been widely credited with an increased public awareness of the disease and, six months after her death, medical staff in the area say they are still experiencing a significant rise in the number of women getting screened.
Helen Dear, who heads NHS West Essex's screening programme said: “The uptake rates of cervical screening in women aged 25 to 64 have increased, and the increase has been shown to be in the younger age groups and in those women who had previously lapsed or indeed had never engaged with the programme.
“The timing of the increase does suggest that this could be partly attributed to Jade Goody’s high-profile public battle with cancer.“
Ms Goody was honoured with a posthumous award earlier this month by charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer for being an inspiration to other sufferers.
However, as the memory of Goody’s struggle fades, staff fear that the rates of screening may start to drop off.
They also face a new set of challenges after the high-profile death of 14-year-old Coventry schoolgirl Natalie Morton, who died shortly after receiving a cervical cancer vaccination in September.
Shortly after her death it emerged that she had been suffering from a previously undiscovered tumour, but health officials nationwide fear that the media coverage could put off many young girls from having the jab.
To allay public fears NHS West Essex suspended the vaccination programme for three days while it reassured parents and youngsters.
Dr Pam Hall, deputy director of public health said the programme was now back on track. She said: “The first vaccination session after the suspension was well attended.”
Around 800 women die from the disease every year in Britain.
Girls aged 12 and 13 are currently being offered the vaccine in the district, with an additional catch-up programme also underway for those aged under 18 who have not received the jab.
Visit nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-cervix for more information.
• The father of Jade Goody’s two sons, Jeff Brazier, is to stop her former husband Jack Tweed from seeing them, according to reports in the Sunday newspapers. Ms Goody said before her death that she hoped Mr Tweed, currently awaiting trial on a rape charge, would stay in the boys lives.
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