IPSWICH — East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has become the first in the East of England to trial a new womb cancer test called WID-easy, with Ipswich Hospital and Colchester Hospital both offering the procedure. The test involves a swab taken from the vagina and behind the cervix, similar to a smear test, and produces results within three to five days rather than weeks.

Funding for the trial was secured by the East of England Cancer Alliance. If the test finds no cancer, there is a very low risk of the patient developing the disease, and if cancer is detected, further tests are arranged. Previously, women were given ultrasound scans that could produce false positive results, leading many to undergo unnecessary invasive procedures.

Dr Wendy MacNab, clinical director for gynaecology and a consultant gynae-oncologist at the trust, said the swab offered a clear advantage over earlier methods. "I felt it was really important because why would I want to offer, as a gynaecologist, a less effective service? When I can offer something that's quicker, less invasive, more accurate, less uncomfortable to go through." she said.

MacNab said setting up the trial had taken months of work. "It's been a really busy few months setting it up, but it's also been a real pleasure to introduce something that seems to have such a positive response." she said.

Angela Ransby, a 56-year-old from Ipswich who has had endometriosis for 20 years, was among the patients offered the new test after visiting Ipswich Hospital with post-menopausal bleeding. Ransby has had a partial hysterectomy and bowel resection, and her endometriosis had spread over her body, including into her lungs. She had also been on hormonal treatment.

Ransby said clinicians explained that the option had only recently become available. "If you'd have come in a week ago or two weeks ago, we wouldn't have been able to offer you what we can offer you now, which is this new swab." she said.

Ransby said the experience at the hospital was better than she had expected. "It's not my experience to go to women's health in the NHS and Ipswich Hospital, and come out thinking, 'Bloody hell, that was good, that was even tolerable'." she said. "I'm telling everybody, going, 'Oh I'm a real champion of it now', because I think it's hard enough as a patient who requires that level of treatment." she added. "But I think that if you're also a practitioner giving it and when you're seeing multiple women that you're hurting, that's tough." she said.