Government to expand cervical screening access through NHS App
The Government has announced measures to improve women's experiences with cervical screening. Booking screening should be easier, and lower-risk people will attend fewer appointments.
The NHS has announced plans to roll out digital invitations and reminders for cervical screenings via the NHS App.
As part of a new "ping and book" service to boost uptake and help save thousands of lives, eligible women will first receive a notification through the NHS App to alert them to book a screening appointment. If the app notification isn't opened, a text message will follow. Letters will remain in place for those who need them.
Last year, nearly half of the women who took part in Healthwatch England's research on women’s experience of cervical screening, told us that the ability to book screenings via the NHS App would make them more likely to attend screening appointments in the future.
Changes also announced:
- From July, younger women (ages 25-49) who test negative for human papillomavirus (HPV), meaning they are at very low risk of developing cervical cancer over the next ten years, will be invited for screening every five years rather than three year intervals.
- Those whose screening sample indicates the presence of HPV, or who have a recent history of HPV, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings.
