Cervical screening - my way

In 2023, NHS England set a target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. It's an admirable but challenging goal, set against declining levels of uptake by women of cervical screening over the past 20 years. In response, Healthwatch England launched research to investigate why some women are hesitant to go for screening, to make recommendations to policymakers on how to improve uptake and to help meet the elimination goal. Conducted between November 2023 and February 2024, the research consists of:

•  A poll of more than 2,400 women who were hesitant about cervical screening. 
• Interviews of 30 younger, disabled, or minority ethnic women to amplify voices that are not always heard and who generally face service barriers.

The top reasons for hesitancy among respondents were worries about physical discomfort, embarrassment at undressing in front of healthcare professionals and a belief they didn't have to go because they weren't currently sexually active. 

Women felt NHS information describing the purpose of cervical screening was good/clear (78%), but fewer (58%) said it explained Human Papillomavirus (HPV) as the leading cause of cervical cancer. 

Some women didn't receive accessible or translated information to enable them to understand the invitations and make an informed decision about attending a screening. 

Most women (81%) who'd attended screening previously said that staff treated them with respect. However, only a third (33%) felt they'd been able to ask staff for practical changes that could make them feel comfortable in appointments. 

There was strong support (73%) for home testing – currently being considered as an option by screening experts – if it was offered free on the NHS.

There are major gaps in national data on the diversity of women who attend cervical screening. 

We heard about examples of innovative practices that improve uptake among diverse women.