Cervical cancer still leads to around 685 deaths each year in England, but it doesn’t have to. The NHS has set an ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, and increasing uptake of cervical screening is key to making this happen.
Cervical screening is a free NHS health test offered to women and all people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) – a very common virus that causes over 99% of cervical cancers.
Across London, cervical screening attendance remains lower in younger adults, with only 58% of 25 to 49-year-olds attending, compared to 70% of those aged 50 to 64. We want to change that by empowering more people to make informed choices about their cervical health and feel confident accessing screening when invited.
