Macmillan Cervical Screening Awareness Week
19 – 24 June marks Macmillan’s Cervical Screening Awareness Week. The aim is to raise awareness of the importance of attending for cervical screening with their data indicating that 1 in 4 patients do not attend.
What is cervical screening?
The cervical screening programme is an important tool which helps save around 5,000 lives a year. The aim is early identification of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) which may cause abnormal cell changes. Over time, if left untreated, these can turn into cancerous cells.
All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should receive a letter in the post inviting them to make an appointment.
COVID-19 Impact
Prior to the pandemic there was a steady rise in attendance for cervical screening but these levels have dipped from 2020 onwards. Unfortunately, the NHS has recently advised that nearly 4.6 million people have not booked their latest test.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, in April 2020, laboratories received 91% less samples than expected. This dropped to 85% during May 2020 and 43% in June 2020. By August 2020 the samples began to rise back to expected levels however these few months had a large impact on the number of patients tested.
The pandemic clearly caused individuals to delay screening, which was understandable due to unknown medical complications relating to the virus. However, it is important to encourage individuals to return to screening as early detection can allow treatment to prevent cancer occurring.
Impact of GP surgery wait times
Due to increased telephone waiting times to reach a GP receptionist, it may be that individuals are terminating calls rather than waiting in long queues to book a cervical screening appointment.
Booking a screening appointment may become a lower priority task. However as cervical cancer can be symptomless in the early stages it is important individuals attend their screening appointment to allow for early detection and treatment.
Many local sexual health clinics provide cervical screening and are likely to have much shorter telephone queues meaning tests can be booked in a matter of moments.
Cervical Screening Testing & Results
It is appreciated that individuals often do not want to attend as they find the screening embarrassing or an inconvenience but it is a quick appointment and although it may be slightly uncomfortable the test should not hurt.
During the test a small soft brush is used to collect a sample of cells. After a couple of minutes, the test is complete and the results provided within 4 weeks.
Dependent on the results, these are the usual next steps according to the NHS:
- No HPV found – return for screening in either 3 or 5 years
- Inadequate finding – return for a repeat sample in 3 months
- HPV found but no abnormal cells – return for screening in a year
- HPV found with abnormal cells – referral for a colposcopy (a more in depth look at the cells). A biopsy (sample of cells) may be taken at this appointment.
Cervical screening has proved invaluable in preventing the development of cervical cancer. It is vital that continuing efforts are made to break down the barriers in patients attending for their screening.
Author: Jade Fairless, Medical Negligence solicitor
