Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that (b) cervical screening is not delayed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and (b) women are called for their smear tests within the normal timescales.

The continuation of cervical screening services is a priority. National Health Service trusts have been instructed that invitations and appointments should be maintained and that as far as possible staff and facilities should not be redeployed. NHS England and NHS Improvement have issued guidance to support providers to continue to deliver services, including Infection Prevention and Control advice and innovations such as providing screening appointments in a greater range of venues. Should there be any disruption to local screening services, NHS England and NHS Improvement have a process in place for regional public health commissioning teams to quickly escalate and put in place actions to rapidly address and resolve issues.