Personalised cervical screening will be available to millions of people to monitor the development of HPV and cervical cancer. HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers, and regular screening is required to diagnose them as early as possible. The NHS has rolled out a ‘ping and book’ service via the NHS app to help more eligible women book a test. The notifications will be mainly targeted at women who have had a history of – or whose samples tested positive for – HPV to undergo frequent screenings, following recommendations from the UK National Screenings Committee.
Over a quarter of pupils missing out on HPV vaccine
Five million women not up to date with cervical screening
First HPV home test available in the UK
‘The NHS is following robust evidence on how often women need to be safely screened, and by putting invitations and reminders straight in women’s pockets on their phones, we’re making it easier than ever to take up screening appointments,’ said NHS National Clinical Director for Women’s Health, Dr Sue Mann. ‘Make sure you come forward for your screening when you’re invited, even if it was weeks, months or years ago. If you think you are due but have not yet had an invitation, speak to your GP practice.’
Cancer organisations support this movement, as research supporting the initiative has also shown women who are at a lower risk can get tested less frequently. An analysis of a pilot of this approach by King’s College London found that women between 25 – 49 who have tested negative for HPV are unlikely to develop cancer within the next decade. Therefore, they can safely get tested every five years rather than three, with little to no difference in the probability of cancer being diagnosed.
‘We welcome this change to cervical screening in England, which is the result of years of vital research to make screening more effective and has shown it is safe to extend the time between tests,’ said Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK. ‘Screening, alongside the roll out of the HPV vaccine – which Cancer Research UK scientists helped develop – have seen cervical cancer rates drop by around a quarter since the early 1990s, and we look forward to even more progress.’