Sefton Council is supporting this week’s national Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which encourages those eligible to come forward for their cervical screening.

NHS England’s ambition is to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. During Cervical Cancer Prevention Week women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 are being urged to attend a cervical screening when the NHS invites them.

Reminder letter

Anyone who has received a reminder letter for a cervical screening – also known as a smear test can take up their appointment by contacting their GP.

Out-of-hours appointments can be made through the GP Extra Service via your GP. People can also call Sefton Sexual Health on 01695 656550 and ask for a cervical screening appointment.

Four special visits

Plus, to help make it easier to access screenings in Sefton, the Living Well Bus will be providing them during four special visits to the Borough, shown in the table below.

 
All sessions are from 10.30am to 4pm and no appointments are needed.

Screening saves lives

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Sefton Council’s Cabinet member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Each year Cervical screening save around 5,000 lives a year in the UK and one of those lives may be yours.

“Across Sefton around 70% of eligible women aged 25 to 49 and just over 71% of eligible women aged 50 to 64 have attended a screening. These figures are broadly in line with national figures but fall short of NHS England’s target of 80%.

“Cervical screening tests for the Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) is the best way to find out who is at higher risk of developing the cervical cell changes that over time could potentially lead to cervical cancer.

“It might feel a bit awkward and you can ask for a female doctor or nurse, but it only takes around 10 minutes, and it could save your life.

“If you receive a letter inviting you for a cervical screening, it is important that you take up this offer, even if you have had the HPV vaccination in school.

“Don't put it off - book your cervical screening today.”   

Global initiative

In 2023, NHS England outlined its ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. This is in line with the World Health Organisation’s global initiative to achieve a cervical cancer incidence rate of below 4 per 100,000.

The NHS sees eliminating cervical cancer as crucial in improving women’s overall health and wellbeing.

Not too late

Cllr Doyle added: “While we women tend to live longer, we also tend to spend more of our lives suffering from ill health, with all the knock-on effects that can have.

“Cervical screening and HPV vaccination has an important role to play in reducing and eventually eliminating this significant cause of that ill health.

“It’s not too late, even if you were invited weeks, months or years ago, arrange you screening today.”

You can use this link to find out more about Cervical Screening from the NHS.