Yorkshire Cancer research welcome roll out of at home cervical cancer testing
The charity says it will help save lives
Women across 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 groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionise cervical cancer prevention rates by tackling deeply entrenched barriers that keep some women away from potentially life-saving screenings, including a fear of discomfort, embarrassment, cultural sensitivities and the struggle to find time for medical appointments.
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 in the local post box.
Yorkshire Cancer Research says it welcomes the move.
The Harrogate based charity says: 'The decision to include this change in the 10 Year Health Plan marks a significant milestone in cervical screening and will play an important role in achieving a future free from cervical cancer.
'Around 3 in 10 women in Yorkshire do not attend appointments when invited. This can be for many different reasons, including embarrassment, fear of pain or time constraints.
'Research shows that at-home tests have the potential to screen more than 100,000 more women for HPV in Yorkshire over a three-year period.
'It’s vital that the Government delivers proper funding for and adopts innovative approaches in screening as swiftly as possible, to help address health inequalities and ensure everyone can benefit from life-saving tests.'
Participation in cervical cancer screening currently sits at just 68.8% - well below the NHS England target of 80%. This means over 5 million women in England are not up to date with their routine check-up. But experts believe this targeted approach could increase participation in the screening programme that saves approximately 5000 lives a year across England.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
"These self-sampling kits represent healthcare that works around people's lives, not the other way around. They put women firmly in control of their own health, ensuring we catch more cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
"Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally reform the NHS, shifting focus from treating illness to preventing it before it starts.
“We know the earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the chances are of survival. By making screening more convenient, we're tackling the barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests.”