Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2019 to Question 1906, what assessment his Department has made of the most appropriate test for patients presenting with symptoms of cervical cancer; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women with symptoms of cervical cancer under the age of 25 are encouraged to return to their GP if they are denied a cervical screening test but symptoms continue.

All general practitioners (GPs) should use the latest evidence-based guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to identify people at risk of cancer. The NICE referral guidelines for suspected gynaecological cancers recommend that GPs consider a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within two weeks) for women if, on examination, the appearance of their cervix is consistent with cervical cancer.

People of any age who present with symptoms of cervical cancer, should make an appointment with their GP, who may then make a cancer pathway referral to a gynaecologist for examination. This may result in an additional referral for symptomatic colposcopic examination if cancer is suspected.