A CHILDMINDER is offering free childcare to mothers who need to go to cervical screening appointments.

Samantha Stanier who is based in Honeybourne said: “I have been doing it for about a month now, I have had a few people take me up on the offer which is great.”

“Cervical screening at the moment is at an all time low and it is important. With parents working and with lots of children, it can be difficult to attend and appointment.”

Mrs Stanier said: “I recently went to an appointment but I was lucky enough to have a colleague who offered to look after my children so I could go.”

“I have seen people offer it on Facebook groups and I belong to other groups and other child minders are offering the same thing.”

“I am offering this to help mothers but equally men as well, if you need to go to an appointment for something, I can be discreet.”

Mrs Stanier has been a child minder for 15 years and has 12 children on her books currently, aged between 18 months to 12 years. She has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted three times.

Mrs Stanier said: “I love my job, It is an important job, looking after children but also supporting families.”

“It is not about promoting my business; the message is that I’m offering quality childcare so you can go to appointments. Every woman and man should be getting checked, and I just want to help.”

The number of women attending cervical screening in the UK is falling, with over one in four women not attending when invited. Attendance is currently at its lowest in 19 years in England. Cervical cancer can be prevented. Smear tests can detect abnormal cell changes in a woman’s cervix which left untreated, could turn into cancer, and HPV – a group of viruses which can lead to cell changes in the cervix and cancer

Contact Mrs Stanier at sam@kiddicare4u.co.uk