Women are being encouraged not to ignore their smear test invite – as latest figures for cervical screening show a dip in attendance across Ayrshire and Arran.
To mark Cervical Cancer Prevention Week between January 17 and January 23, healthcare professionals across Scotland have reinforced that the cervical screening test now offered is more sensitive, screening for the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) – the main cause of cervical cancer – to help ensure any cell changes are identified and treated earlier.
The latest annual cervical screening stats released by Public Health Scotland show Ayrshire and Arran’s uptake fell from 73.8 per cent in 2019/20 to 72.3 per cent in 2020/21.
