NHS makes fresh uptake appeal as five million women not up to date with cervical screening
The NHS invites those eligible for screening every three to five years depending on their age, or more frequently if the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected, with the programme saving thousands of lives annually.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme, England 2023-2024 annual report, published by NHS England today, found that 68.8% of 25 to 64-year-olds were screened within the recommended period of time, compared to 68.7% the previous year. Coverage was higher for 50 to 64-year-olds at 74.3% compared with 25 to 49-year-olds at 66.1%.
In 2023-24, everyone who was due a test – a total of 5.12 million individuals aged 25 to 64 in England – was invited to book an appointment, and 3.25 million were tested during the year.
Last year, the NHS pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 by making it as easy as possible for people to get the lifesaving HPV vaccination and encouraging more women and people with a cervix to come forward for their cervical screening.
Earlier this month, the NHS set out reforms to fully digitise screening – by announcing the rollout of a new “ping and book” service that will send phone alerts to remind people they are due or overdue an appointment. The plans will begin with invitations for breast screening being sent directly through the NHS App, and be expanded to include cervical screening in Spring 2025.
NHS cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by using a highly effective test to check for HPV, which is found in over 99% of all cervical cancers and may cause abnormal cells to develop in the cervix. These abnormal cells can, over time, turn into cancer if left untreated.
Those who are due a cervical screening appointment will receive invitation letters by post when it’s time to book. Appointments can be booked through GP practices; some sexual health clinics also offer the service. Anyone who has previously received an invitation and been unable to attend shouldn’t wait for another invitation – you can still book a cervical screening appointment even if invited weeks, months or years ago.
"We know from stories women have shared with us that fear of pain, embarrassment, past trauma, or misconceptions about HPV can stop them booking a screening appointment. That’s why we want everyone eligible for cervical screening to know that options are open to them to make this process more comfortable."
Our article on How to make cervical screening (a smear test) work for you outlines the different adjustments you can request and the support available to help you feel comfortable during the test.
England is among the first countries in the world to set the elimination ambition for cervical cancer within the next two decades.
More information on NHS cervical screening and how to book an appointment is available at:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening.
Read the full report: