Nearly four in ten women in London have not come forward for NHS cervical screening, new figures show, as health bosses urged women to take up the potentially life-saving offer.
Data published by NHS England shows that 38.7 per cent of women aged between 25 and 64 had not attended screening within the recommended period of time, a rise of 1.8 per cent on the year before.
The proportion was higher for 50- to 64-year-olds at 70.7 per cent, compared to 58 per cent for 25 to 49 year-olds.
Everyone who was due a test – a total of 949,700 individuals aged 25 to 64 in the capital – was invited to book an appointment, and 628,300 attended screening during the year.
There was a significant variation in screening rates in different London boroughs. In Kensington and Chelsea, 56 per cent of eligible women had not attended screening, compared to 27.4 per cent in Bromley.
Women are invited for cervical screening every three to five years depending on their age, but will be seen more frequently if they have human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses which can be transmitted through sexual contact and cause no symptoms.
During the appointment, a small sample of cells is collected from the cervix and checked for certain types of HPV.
The vast majority – 99.7 per cent – of cervical cancers are caused by 13 high-risk types of the virus.
There is a vaccine for HPV which is given to boys and girls when they are 12 to 13 years old and to people at high risk from HPV.
The figures come just a week after the head of the NHS pledged to wipe out cervical cancer in England by 2040.
Steve Russell, Chief Delivery Officer and National Director for Vaccinations and Screening for NHS England, said: “We know that it’s possible for the NHS to eliminate cervical cancer within the next two decades, but it relies on millions of people continuing to come forward for screening and vaccinations every year.
“The NHS is doing everything we can to achieve our ambition by making it as easy as possible to make appointments, with the latest figures showing the NHS arranged cervical screening for over 3.4 million women last year.”
Nicola Smith, Senior Health Information Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “The cervical screening programme saves thousands of lives every year in the UK by preventing cancer and helping to stop the disease in its tracks. We encourage women and people with a cervix, such as trans men and non-binary people assigned female at birth, to take part.
“Barriers to participation can often lead to inequalities in diagnosis and treatment, so we support targeted action to increase awareness and widen access to this potentially life-saving programme.
“Some people can find cervical screening uncomfortable but there are ways to make your appointment work better for you. When booking, ask for a longer time slot, so you can speak through any concerns you may have. And remember, you are in control of your appointment.”
People can contact their GP practice to arrange a cervical screening appointment, and some sexual health clinics also offer cervical screening.
