Programme news and press releases

22/10/2009 | The latest statistics shows cervical screening numbers have increased

2008-2009 statistics show the number of women having cervical screening has increased to 3.7 million, an increase of 10.5 per cent.

13/07/2009 | Survey reveals black and minority ethnic communities unaware of cervical cancer risk

Women from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups are less sure of their cervical cancer risk than white women, according to a Populus poll commissioned by the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.

24/06/2009 | Announcement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Ann Keen): "I announced in my Written Ministerial Statement of 13th March 2009 that we had asked the independent Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS) to formally review the evidence relating to risks and benefits of cervical screening in women under 25 years, including current evidence regarding incidence and mortality in young women."

24/06/2009 | New cervical cancer campaign

There will be a new drive to ensure GPs spot cervical cancer symptoms earlier in young women and refer patients correctly, Health Minister Ann Keen announced today.

03/03/2008 | Over half a million breast cancers and significant cervical abnormalities detected in two decades

New figures released today, to mark the 20th Anniversary of the NHS Breast and Cervical Screening Programmes, reveal that over 100,000 breast cancers and 400,000 significant cervical abnormalities¹ have been detected since the programmes began in 1988. From that time over 70 million women in England have received potentially life saving cancer screening.

16/07/2004 | Cervical Screening Saves Thousands of Lives

According to research by Julian Peto et al, published in The Lancet (Vol.364: 249-56) on 16 July 2004, up to 5,000 deaths are being prevented each year by the cervical screening programme.

03/05/2004 | The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) confirms that organized cervical screening programmes are effective. If there is quality control of every key step of the entire process, it was estimated that an 80 per cent reduction in mortality could be achieved.

22/10/2003 | Introduction of LBC and change in national policy

Following a recommendation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), LBC will be introduced across the cervical screening programme in England.

01/07/2003 | Cervical cancer deaths fall below 1000

For the first time ever deaths from cervical cancer have fallen below 1,000 in England. Figures released by National Statistics reveal that in 2002, 927 deaths from cervical cancer were registered.

26/03/2003 | Response to a systematic review of cervical cancer and use of hormonal contraceptives

The results of a systematic review of published data show that the relative risk of cervical cancer increases with increasing duration of oral contraceptive use, (Cervical cancer and use of hormonal contraceptives: a systematic review by Smith JS, Green J et al The Lancet April 5, 2003).

The initial evaluation report of the LBC arm of the English pilot has been submitted to NICE

If NICE recommends its implementation across the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, the Government will fund the introduction of LBC across the NHS in England.

New research examining the effects of long-term use of oral contraceptives and HPV

New research examining the effects of long-term use of oral contraceptives on the occurrence of cervical cancer in women with human papilloma virus (HPV) has been published in The Lancet. The NHS Cervical Screening Programme answers your questions.

04/03/2002 | Enabling an informed choice to be made about screening

Women, who are hard of hearing, visually impaired or whose first language is not English should not miss out on being able to make a genuinely informed choice about whether or not to accept their invitation for screening.

01/11/2001 | NHS Cervical Screening Programme: The Facts

A leaflet designed to ensure that women are told what screening can and cannot achieve is launched.

20/11/2000 | Learning disabilities project launched