Voices of blind women help reshape screening care

The distressing testimonies of women with sight loss have influenced new guidelines designed to make cervical screening more accessible.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland says the more than 100,000 blind and partially sighted women in Scotland face a range of barriers in accessing cervical screening.

Some women have described their experience as “rough” and “painful”, telling the charity that they feel uninformed and unsupported throughout.

Kirin from Edinburgh is registered blind. Reflecting on her experience attending a cervical screening appointment, she said:

“I only went once, and it went disastrously wrong. It was very painful. I didn’t know what was going to happen, or when it was going to happen. 

“I have not and will not go back. 

“The nurse took no time to explain what was going to happen; or what the procedure entailed. Having to position myself on the table with no sight was incredibly difficult.”

Another woman described how distressing the process can be when communication and care are lacking: 

“I had my tests conducted by a nurse who was rude and rough.”

“I was told not to be stupid, and that I was behaving like a child.

“The nurse did not explain to me what they were doing, and this was unpleasant enough that I haven’t gone back to have another screening.”

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Source: Health and Care Scotland, 16 April 2025