Cervical Cancer: Screening

(asked on 18th January 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the decline in cervical screening uptake among women in the age groups (a) 25 to 29 and (b) 60 to 64.


This question was answered on 24th January 2017

The United Kingdom National Screening Committee, the independent body, who advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on screening matters, is currently reviewing the evidence for human papillomavirus self-sampling as an additional test within the NHS Cervical screening programme.

There is a range of work being undertaken by Public Health England (PHE) to understand the reasons for the decline in cervical screening uptake and to try and address them. They include: providing access to data, benchmarking for providers, and timely and useful information for commissioners; developing behavioural insight through communication with commissioners, providers, patients and public; commissioning contracts in public health and primary care; developing relationships with commissioners and providers; and sharing best practice including what works well, evaluation and how to embed quality improvement.

PHE is working with colleagues in NHS England and NHS Digital to implement the Accessible Information Standard which is intended to improve access to services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. Through the re-development of cervical Information Technology systems opportunities will arise to review how to help improve uptake.

PHE supports providers to help meet the Accessible Information Standard through the provision of high quality information for people with learning disabilities or sensory loss. A national group of experts and service users has been set up to oversee this work and will be updating the existing easy read leaflets and developing new materials over the next 18 months.

NHS England closely monitors the coverage rates for cervical screening in all age groups and is committed to improving coverage and reducing variation between all age groups. Local NHS England commissioners analyse coverage rates within their area and work with general practices to improve coverage by sharing best practice.

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