Women’s Health Week aims to uncover the elephant in the room

Central Coast Local Health District is encouraging women to learn more and take action as part of Women’s Health Week from September 7 to 14.

When it comes to health, there are many things women would like to know more about but are too embarrassed to ask or don’t know how to find out. District women’s health service clinical nurse specialist, Ms Cecily Rempe said, this year, Women’s Health Week was all about getting rid of the elephant in the room.

“Every woman has an elephant in the room when it comes to their health,” Ms Rempe said. “Many women often don’t take the time to ask questions, seek out credible information and work on a sound plan of action.”

Cecily said the District Women’s Health Service was specifically aiming to reach out to those women in the local community who have questions and concerns about their health but struggle to find the time or money to seek help or are unsure where to go.

“The Women’s Health Service is a specialised area of advanced nursing that provides women with a holistic woman-centred service. “The service aims to target disadvantaged women by providing free access to cervical screening and advice by expert nurses in easily accessible centres.”

The Women’s Health Service is targeted towards those more vulnerable members of the community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women; culturally and linguistically diverse women; women with disabilities; health care card holders; and women who have never had a pap smear or are overdue for a pap smear.

Appointments are free and the service is staffed by female nurses providing pap smears, contraceptive advice, postnatal checks and menopause information.

Media release,
Sep 7, 2015
Lauren Nicholls, Central
Coast Local Health District