Although women across England will be offered home-testing kits as part of the cervical screening programme, some say that it doesn’t go far enough.
The government has said that women in England who haven’t come forward for vital health checks will be offered home-testing kits as part of the cervical screening programme under the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan.
The plan aims to tackle barriers that keep some women away from screenings, including a fear of discomfort, embarrassment, cultural sensitivities and the struggle to find time for medical appointments.
Participation in cervical cancer screening currently sits at 68.8%. This is below the NHS England target of 80%. Experts believe this targeted approach could increase participation in the screening programme.
The programme specifically targets those groups which consistently miss vital appointments such as younger women, ethnic minority communities facing cultural hurdles, people with a disability and LGBTQ+ people.
“Screening is a powerful tool to prevent cervical cancer and save lives, but we know it isn’t always easy for everyone to take part,” said Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK.
Women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening will be offered a self-sample kit to complete at home. They are then sent out in discreet packaging and returned via pre-paid mail.
Women’s health needs do not stop at retirement
The move builds on changes the government announced in late June to cervical screening. Thanks to more accurate human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, invitations for screening will be sent out every five years instead of every three for women aged 25-49 in England, if they have a negative test.
But while the changes to testing and the new approach to home testing have been broadly welcomed, others say that the approach is too narrow.
“We are concerned that the proposed age range for at-home testing kits of 25-64 critically excludes women over the age of 65. A decision that puts a whole generation at risk. After all, the risk of cervical cancer does not simply cease to exist once a woman turns 65,” said Ruth Healey, president of women’s charity Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI).
“In fact, many older women are increasingly likely to have new or multiple partners due to divorce, bereavement or changing life circumstances, meaning they are more susceptible to contracting HPV in later life,” she continued.
She pointed to the most recent research examining cervical cancer in women over 65 which found that nearly one in six cervical cancer diagnoses occur in this age group.
“To combat this, we’re urging for a health policy that reflects the reality that women’s health needs do not stop at retirement age. It is vital that public health policy keeps pace with women’s health needs across all stages of life,” she said.
