A new national campaign is calling on those eligible not to ignore their invite, as data reveals nearly 1 in 3 don’t take up the offer of cervical screening
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with the support of the NHS, has today launched a major new national campaign to increase the number of those eligible attending their cervical screening in England.
The new Help Us Help You – Cervical Screening Saves Lives campaign urges women and those who may be eligible not to ignore their cervical screening invite, and if they missed their last one, to book an appointment with their GP practice or sexual health clinic now.
Latest figures from March 2021 show that nearly a third (30%) of eligible individuals – women and people with a cervix aged between 25 and 64 - were not screened.[1]
Around 2,700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year and approximately 690 women die from the disease – around two deaths every day.[2] Previous estimates suggest screening prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths, but 83% of deaths could be prevented if everyone attended regularly.[3]
As part of the campaign, a new survey of 3,000 women and people with a cervix commissioned by DHSC today reveals a number of concerns which prevent cervical screening.
Embarrassment was the most common reason for never having attended or missing an appointment (stated by 42% of respondents), followed by those who “kept putting it off” (34%) and “being worried it would be painful” (28%). 15% of lesbian or bisexual women over 25 had never had a smear test, compared to 7% of women over 25 in general.[4]
To tackle these barriers and help drive uptake, a new film has been released featuring Loose Women panellist Linda Robson, TV personality Scarlett Moffatt, broadcaster Louise Minchin, Drag Queen Victoria Scone and female rights activist Sharon Gaffka, alongside GP and media medic, Dr Zoe Williams.
Through life saving conversations, they tackle the barriers to attending cervical screening and encourage those eligible to book their appointment when invited.
Maria Caulfield, Minister for Patient Safety and Primary Care, said:
The full findings from the new survey reveal:
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England, said:
In England, NHS cervical screening is offered to women and people with a cervix between the ages of 24.5 and 49 every three years. For those between the ages of 50 and 64, screening is offered every five years.
The campaign will emphasise that screening, which only takes a few minutes, can help stop cervical cancer before it starts, and is being supported by charities, including Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.
Cervical screening checks for high-risk types of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a common virus that most people will get at some point.
While for people with high-risk HPV the risk of getting cancer is low, any abnormal changes can be identified early. Cell changes are easily treated, and this prevents cervical cancer. That is why attending screening appointments is so important.
Running throughout England from 14th February to 14th March, the campaign will include TV advertising, video on demand and social media, partnerships, together with national and regional PR activity.
It also includes activity targeted to ethnic minority (Black and South Asian) and LGBTQ+ communities, as data shows these groups can experience specific barriers to taking up screening.
GP Dr Zoe Williams, who features in the campaign, said:
Scarlett Moffatt said:
Sharon Gaffka, female rights activist, 25, said:
Victoria Scone, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestant and TV Personality, commented:
Louise Minchin, broadcaster and journalist, 53, who usually feels nervous when she attends her cervical screening, said:
TV Personality and Loose Women Panellist, Linda Robson, 63, said:
Background Information:
About the campaign:
About Cervical Screening & HPV
High-risk Human Papilloma virus (HPV) DNA is found in over 99% of all cervical cancers.[5] Cervical screening now primarily tests for the presence of this high-risk HPV infection, which is a common virus that most people will get at some point. HPV primary screening is a more sensitive and accurate test than the previous method (cytology alone) and is the best way to find out who is at higher risk of developing the cervical cell changes that over time could potentially lead to cervical cancer.
While the risk for people with high-risk HPV of getting cervical cancer is low, any abnormal changes can be identified early. If HPV is detected, the sample is then checked for any changes in the cells of the cervix. Cell changes are easily treated if caught early, so they don’t get a chance to turn into cervical cancer.
For further information about cervical screening, please visit the NHS website.
References
[1] Cervical Screening Programme England 2020- 2021
[2] Cancer Registration Statistics, England 2019. Data obtained from NCRAS, PHE. On average 2687 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer (ICD-10 C53) each year from 2017 – 2019 and 689 women died from the disease. The latest annual data is for 2019
[3] Landy, R., Pesola F., et al., Impact of cervical screening on cervical cancer mortality: estimation using stage-specific results from a nested case–control study. British Journal of Cancer volume115, pages1140–1146 25 October 2016.
[4] Opinium conducted an online survey with a nationally representative sample of 3,003 women (and people with a cervix) aged 25-64. The online survey ran from 7th – 17th January 2021. Results available from here
[5] 99.8% of cervical cancer cases in the UK are caused by HPV infection