NHS urges people to book their cervical screening

Latest data shows that nearly a third (30%) of those who are eligible for their cervical screening have not taken up the offer of the potentially lifesaving test.

The NHS is calling on anyone eligible who has not yet come forward, to book an appointment, as these checks save lives and combined with the HPV vaccination programme could make cervical cancer a thing of the past.

The call comes as cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, launches its annual Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (23-29 Jan 2023) to raise awareness of cervical cancer and to drive uptake in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

Around 2,700 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer in England each year and approximately 690 die from the disease – around two deaths every day.  The NHS Cervical Screening Programme helps save thousands of lives per year and those who are invited are being encouraged to ensure they attend their screening.

In the last year (21/22) the NHS sent out more screening invitations than ever before – more than 5 million – and 3.5 million people came forward for testing.