Fund cervical screening every 3 yrs or more frequently, lower minimum age to 18

Background

Reduce the age at which routine cervical screening is first offered, to 18. Require routine testing every 3 years, fully funded, rather than 5 years, for non HPV positive individuals and increase funding for more frequent testing.

Additional details

There were 251,251 women referred for a colposcopy during 2023/24. Many of these women likely would not have been sent for a colposcopy had there not been changes detected in their smear testing. Its previously been estimated that cervical screening only prevents around 70% of cervical cancer deaths in England. Women deserve the right to have the confidence that cancer that can show no signs in initial stages be tested for on a regular basis.

Where it’s popular

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