Feb member thanks branch for pro-active approach to prostate cancer tests

7 October 2024

A West Midlands Police Federation member has thanked the branch for its help in getting officers access to a test for prostate cancer.

Sergeant Liam Hemmings said the support of branch deputy chair Jase Dooley was instrumental in the tests being available.

Liam said: “I’m really pleased that it’s all been signed off, there’s a date set and officers are going to be able to go and get tested and, potentially, we could save lives.

“The Federation have been brilliant. They’ve been really supportive.

“From the initial conversation I had with Jase Dooley, he picked up and ran with it.

Sergeant Liam Hemmings with dad, Junia.

“If it wasn’t for Jase pushing it as well we might not have got it over the line.”

Liam requested the test be made available after his dad, Junia, and the husband of one of his team members were diagnosed with the disease within a short period of time.

He contacted the Federation for help, and the branch approached the Force, with Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green and Pete Gillett, Director of Commercial Services, giving their support to the testing programme.

The agreed for a number of tests to be made available.

A testing event is being held by the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust at Force headquarters at Lloyd House in Birmingham on Monday 18 November from 10am to 4pm.

Liam said it could save lives.

Get tested

“I appreciate funding wise that we can only do a certain number of tests, but at least we’re starting to do it,” he said.

“If people can’t get one of these tests it might just trigger them to go to their own doctors and get tested there.

“If it can save one person then that’s absolutely brilliant.”

To book an appointment, register at https://gfct.mypsatests.org.uk/

Once officers have confirmed their email and verified their account they need to log back into https://gfct.mypsatests.org.uk/ and select the event. The password is WMPF24.

If they do not confirm their email, the booking system will not let them make an appointment.