Mike Hedges
AM supports Cervical Screening Awareness
Week and urges more women to attend the potentially life-saving test
Mike Hedges AM, is supporting Cervical Screening Awareness Week (11-17
June) to highlight the potential life-saving benefits of cervical screening
(smear tests). Cervical screening prevents up to 75% of cervical
cancers from developing and saves an estimated 5,000 lives across the UK every
year. However one in four women do not attend when invited.
During Cervical Screening Awareness Week, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the
UK’s only charity for women affected by cervical cancer and abnormalities, is
warning that more needs to be done to make it easier for women to access a
screening appointment. The charity is calling for a greater range of
appointment times at GP practices, increased access through sexual health
services and innovation including the introduction of self-sampling.
Cervical screening is largely delivered in GP practices with five million
women invited every year in the UK. However, new research[1]
by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has found a worrying one in eight women find it
difficult or even impossible to book an appointment. 7.4% of women were told no
appointments at their GP practice were available the last time they tried to
book.
Mike Hedges AM, said: “I am delighted to be supporting Cervical Screening
Awareness Week, and the work of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. It’s extremely
concerning that more than one in four women do not attend cervical screening.
Part of the reason for this is that many women find it hard to get an
appointment time that suits them and I support Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s
calls for action to tackle this.”
Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We’re
delighted to have the support of Mike Hedges Despite cervical screening protecting against
75% of all cervical cancers, one in four women don’t attend. Our research shows
that access to cervical screening across the UK is unequal and inconsistent and
this needs to change. We have a free Helpline women can call if they have any
questions about cervical screening, no question is too big or small. We would
like all women to feel they can make an informed decision in attending this
potentially life-saving test.”
Ends
For further comment, interviews or case studies
please contact media@jostrust.org.uk
or call 020 3096 8100 / 07772 290064
Notes to editors
About Jo’s
Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) is the UK’s only dedicated charity offering support and information to
women of all ages and their loved ones affected by cervical cancer and cervical
abnormalities. The National Helpline is on 0808 802 8000.
About cervical cancer
•
The
majority (99.7%) of cervical cancers are caused by persistent human
papillomavirus (HPV) infection which causes changes to the cervical cells
•
220,000
UK women are diagnosed with cervical abnormalities each year
•
Over
3,200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 890 women lose their lives
every year
•
Around
5 million UK women are invited to cervical screening each year yet one in four
do not attend
•
Women
aged 25-49 are invited every three years and women aged 50-64 are invited every
five years
[1] 2,031 women aged 25-64, fieldwork was undertaken from 21.05.2018 -
23.05.2018 by Censuswide
