Alarm as capital has lowest rate of cervical cancer checks in country

LONDON has the lowest rate for cervical cancer screening in England, figures revealed today, as the NHS issued a plea for eligible women to come forward and get a test.

Less than two-thirds (62.6 per cent) of women in the capital were up to date with their screening for 2021/22 — well below the NHS target of 80 per cent.

Around 3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 800 die from the disease each year in the UK. The UK currently offers a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in schools together with a cervical screening programme and colposcopy services that help catch pre-cancerous cell changes.

Women should go for a cervical smear test every 3.5 years if they are between 25 and 49, and every 5.5 years if aged between 50 and 64. This is intended to detect abnormalities within the cervix that could, if undetected and untreated, develop into cervical cancer.

But analysis of NHS Digital figures by the Labour Party found that screening rates had fallen to below 70 per cent nationally, down from 75.7 per cent in 2010/11. Rates of cervical screening were also on a downward trajectory even before the pandemic hit, according to Labour. In the year ending March 2020, they had fallen to 72 per cent nationally and 64.7 per cent in London. Less than half of eligible women in boroughs such as Kensington and Chelsea (45.6 per cent) and Westminster (47 per cent) were up to date with their cervical screening in 2021/22.

The NHS has urged anyone eligible for screening to come forward as the UK marks Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Dr Kiren Collison, interim director for primary care at NHS England, said it was “vital” that eligible women take up the offer of a test.

“If you have received an invitation, or missed your last screening, don’t wait to make an appointment, put your health first and book an appointment with your GP practice or sexual health clinic today — getting checked can save your life.”

Shadow secretary of state for women and equalities, Anneliese Dodds, said: “The Government has completely dropped the ball on cervical screening over the past decade and urgently needs to wake up to this growing problem for women’s health.”

Separate figures this week showed that vaccine uptake in eligible girls and boys fell by seven per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively in 2021/22 compared with the previous year. Coverage in England for girls receiving two doses by year nine was 67.3 per cent — 20 per cent lower than before the pandemic.

The Department of Health was approached for comment.