At-home tests offered to women to drive down cervical cancer cases
The tests, which can be performed at home, look for the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus which is linked to the majority of cases of cervical cancer.
After getting the nod from the UK National Screening Committee in March, the NHS in England is going to offer the tests to certain women.
It is expected that the rollout will begin in January next year.
The NHS offers cervical screening tests – previously known as smear tests – to all women aged 25-64 every three years.
But many people do not take up the offer, with a number citing a lack of time, discomfort or embarrassment.
Data published by the NHS last November showed five million women are not up to date with routine check-ups.
Now officials have said that at-home kits will be offered to women who have rarely or have never attended their cervical screening.
The initiative will see women sent a self-sampling kit in the post which can be returned via pre-paid mail.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the move could break down 'barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests' (Lucy North/PA)
People who were found to have the HPV virus will be encouraged to attend an in-person appointment with a clinician.
Research has suggested that offering DIY testing kits could boost uptake.
The YouScreen trial, which was led by King's College London in partnership with NHS England, found that offering self-sampling kits to 'under-screened' women when they attend their GP practice and by posting kits to women's homes could boost uptake in England by about 400,000 each year.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the new approach could potentially save about 5,000 lives a year across England.
It said that the new programme 'specifically targets those groups consistently missing vital appointments' including: younger women, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and LGBT plus people.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'These self-sampling kits represent healthcare that works around people's lives, not the other way around.
'They put women firmly in control of their own health, ensuring we catch more cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
'Our 10-year health plan will fundamentally reform the NHS, shifting focus from treating illness to preventing it before it starts.
'We know the earlier cancer is diagnosed the better the chances are of survival.
'By making screening more convenient, we're tackling the barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests.'
Dr Anita Lim, chief investigator of the YouScreen trial from King's College London, added: 'This is a significant step forward for cervical cancer prevention and brings us closer to the NHS goal of eliminating the disease by 2040.
'The YouScreen trial, which provided self-sampling HPV kits to under-screen women in London, demonstrated that self-sampling could reach people who find it difficult to attend traditional screening – including those from diverse and underserved populations.
'It's hugely positive to see this now reflected in national policy, helping more people get protected from this highly preventable cancer.'
Michelle Kane, NHS England's director of screening, added: 'There are a number of reasons that stop some women taking up the offer of screening and we hope the introduction of self-testing will encourage more women to take up this life-saving test in a way that works for them.
'I'd encourage anyone who gets an invite for a cervical screening, either from their local GP practice or the NHS App, to attend and if you have any worrying symptoms, please contact your GP. It could save your life.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
39 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Weight loss jabs linked to potentially fatal side effects
Some cases of pancreatitis reported to be linked to GLP-1 medicines (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) have been fatal. Data from the medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), shows that since the drugs were licensed there have been hundreds of cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis among people taking GLP-1 medicines. The new weight management medication 'Tirzepatide' (brand name Mounjaro®) is shortly being made available to NHS patients to support weight loss. Access is prioritised for those with the greatest clinical need. You can find out more at: — NHS Cheshire and Merseyside (@NHSCandM) June 24, 2025 This includes: 181 reported cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to tirzepatide – the active ingredient for Mounjaro. Five people died. 116 reported reactions of this kind linked to liraglutide, one of which was fatal. 113 cases of acute and chronic pancreatitis linked to semaglutide – the active ingredient for Ozempic and Wegovy. One person died. 101 reported reactions of this kind linked to exenatide, three people died. 52 reported reactions of this sort linked to dulaglutide and 11 reported reactions lixisenatide. No fatalities were linked to either drug. These cases are not confirmed as being caused by the medicines, but the person who reported them suspected they may be. Review your ICB's local policy about treating patients with tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for weight management in a primary care setting and visit: — We are Primary Care (@PrimaryCareNHS) June 27, 2025 Nonetheless, Yellow Card Biobank project, launched by the MHRA and Genomics England, will see researchers examine whether cases of pancreatitis linked to GLP-1 drugs may be influenced by peoples genetic makeup. The MHRA is calling for people who are taking GLP-1 medicine who have been admitted to hospital due to acute pancreatitis to submit a report to its Yellow Card scheme. When a Yellow Card report is received, the MHRA will contact patients to ask if they would be willing to take part in the study. Patients will be asked to submit more information and a saliva sample which will be assessed to explore whether some people are at a higher risk of acute pancreatitis when taking these medicines due to their genes. GLP-1 agonists can lower blood sugar levels in people living with type 2 diabetes and can also be prescribed to support some people with weight loss. 🧵Weight loss jab roll out 'positive for patients' but with implications for general practice that must be considered. Our Chair Kamila Hawthorne has featured widely in the national press and broadcast media responding to the phased roll-out of Mounjaro prescriptions by NHS… — Royal College of General Practitioners (@rcgp) June 23, 2025 Stress and sleep issues Chronic stress and poor sleep are major weight loss blockers. Stress increases cortisol, a hormone linked to fat retention, especially around the abdomen. Sleep deprivation increases ghrelin (hunger hormone) and decreases leptin (fullness hormone), making you more likely to overeat and less likely to move. You're also more impulsive and less motivated when sleep-deprived, making it harder to stick to your diet and exercise routine. As a solution, prioritise stress management techniques (like mindfulness or journaling), and aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Health conditions and medications Medical issues such as PCOS, diabetes, hypothyroidism, or insulin resistance can all interfere with weight loss. Similarly, certain medications (like antidepressants or steroids) may cause weight gain or inhibit fat loss. If weight loss stalls despite doing everything right, consult your GP to rule out or address any underlying conditions. If you have a known medical condition, it's important to stay up to date with your routine reviews and inform your GP or specialist about any weight loss treatments you're using. Regular follow-up helps ensure your treatment plan remains safe and effective. More Mounjaro news... Recent estimates suggest that about 1.5 million people in the UK are taking weight loss jabs. Health officials have suggested that they can help to turn the tide on obesity, but have stressed they are not a silver bullet and do come with side effects. Most side effects linked to the jabs are gastrointestinal including nausea, constipation and diarrhoea. And the medical regulator recently warned that Mounjaro may make the oral contraceptive pill less effective in some patients. Dr Alison Cave, MHRA's chief safety officer, said: 'Evidence shows that almost a third of side effects to medicines could be prevented with the introduction of genetic testing, it is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone. 'Information from the Yellow Card Biobank will help us to better predict those most at risk of adverse reactions – enabling patients across the UK to receive the safest medicine for them, based on their genetic makeup. 'To help us help you, we're asking anyone who has been hospitalised with acute pancreatitis while taking a GLP-1 medicine to report this to us via our Yellow Card scheme. 'Even if you don't meet the criteria for this phase of the Biobank study, information about your reaction to a medication is always extremely valuable in helping to improve patient safety.' Professor Matt Brown, chief scientific officer of Genomics England, said: 'GLP-1 medicines like Ozempic and Wegovy have been making headlines, but like all medicines there can be a risk of serious side effects. 'We believe there is real potential to minimise these with many adverse reactions having a genetic cause. 'This next step in our partnership with the MHRA will generate data and evidence for safer and more effective treatment through more personalised approaches to prescription, supporting a shift towards an increasingly prevention-focused healthcare system.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Ban trans women from female lavatories now, Starmer tells hospitals
Sir Keir Starmer has told hospitals and universities to obey the law and ban transgender women from female lavatories 'as soon as possible'. The Prime Minister said public bodies must stop dragging their feet and comply with April's Supreme Court ruling, which found that trans women are not legally women. The judgment on the meaning of the word sex in the Equality Act means that amenities such as toilets and changing rooms have to be separated by biological sex and not by self-identified gender. But two months on, dozens of NHS trusts and other organisations up and down the country have failed to change their guidance, meaning biological men are still being allowed in women's lavatories and changing rooms. Women's rights groups say this puts female staff at risk because most sexual abuse is carried out by biological men. Now, Sir Keir has lost patience with organisations that are still failing to comply with the law. 'We've accepted the ruling' The Prime Minister said: 'We've accepted the ruling, welcomed the ruling, and everything else flows from that as far as I'm concerned. 'Therefore all guidance of whatever kind needs to be consistent with the ruling and we need to get to that position as soon as possible.' Soon after the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued interim guidance that said that in places such as hospitals, shops and restaurants, 'trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities'. It is now consulting on the details of its guidance, but Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairman, has said the main thrust of the advice will not change. Despite this, most NHS organisations and universities have said they are waiting for the EHRC guidance before updating their policies. But Sir Keir's comments indicate he has little sympathy with this argument. 'No need to wait for further guidance' Maya Forstater, chief executive of the women's rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'This is an important intervention from the Prime Minister, given the huge number of public bodies failing to implement the Supreme Court judgment and therefore operating outside the law. 'Political leadership is essential if women whose rights are being stolen are not to be forced to turn to the courts, where public bodies will end up losing, at great expense to taxpayers.' She added that the law is clear and there is 'no need to wait for further guidance from the EHRC or anyone else'. A growing number of public bodies are changing their guidance in light of the judgment. The Football Association, for example, has said trans women would be banned from women's sport. The Houses of Parliament announced last week that it had changed its position, saying that visitors should use 'the facilities that correspond to their biological sex'. Trans people were instructed to use gender-neutral lavatories on the estate. However, a large number of public organisations have still not changed their guidance. The ruling is of particular importance for universities, many of which organise sports teams and continue to allow biological men to participate in female sports. 'Not making changes' Leeds University said: 'For the avoidance of doubt, we are not making any changes to how we provide campus facilities. 'We will not do so unless there is clear legal obligation, and we have meaningfully consulted with those most directly impacted. This is about getting things right – not about rushing to respond.' Liverpool University said: 'Any practical implications in applying the ruling to our facilities and activities are not yet clear and along with other universities, we now need to wait for more detailed guidance. 'As such, there are no immediate changes to any university policies.' As for the NHS, a group of eight nurses in Darlington is challenging their health trust's policy over allowing a trans colleague to use the female changing rooms at work. The national body – NHS England – is still to publish guidance on the Supreme Court ruling. The NHS Confederation, which represents trusts, has withdrawn pro-trans guidance but has not yet updated it. Several other regional organisations have indicated their advice will not change, at least for the time being. NHS Sussex said: 'There should be no change in terms of how services are delivered as the NHS nationally considers the judgment. 'Further to this, we understand that the update provided by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has led to concern. NHS Sussex will fully participate in a code of practice consultation when it launches to ensure that the protections of the Equality Act endorsed by the Supreme Court are upheld.'
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Future of new NHS surgery centres in Scotland still unclear
The future of five delayed NHS treatment centres to deal with a backlog of operations will not be known until December. Plans to build national treatment centres (NTCs) in Livingston, Perth, Aberdeen, Ayr and Cumbernauld were put on hold in February last year due to funding problems. The Scottish government previously said it would set out its plans after the UK government's spending review, which took place earlier this month. Now a further review of which NHS building projects to prioritise has been ordered by Scottish ministers, with an update on the surgery centres expected in December. Latest figures show there are 559,742 ongoing waits for new outpatient appointment in Scotland's health service, with waits of more than two years at the highest ever Minister John Swinney has pledged to bring down waiting lists and carry out an extra 150,000 appointments and procedures in the coming Scottish government's original plan for dealing with a backlog of operations was a network of treatment centres intended to deliver at least 40,000 additional elective surgeries, diagnostics and other procedures per year by of these centres are up and running, one has been further committed to by Scottish ministers but the remaining five remain unbuilt and have racked up £34m in costs so far. The Scottish government said it was spending more than £1bn on NHS capital investment this year and has committed to progressing work on one of the unbuilt NTCS, a replacement for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.A spokesperson added: "As part of our own Scottish Spending Review, we are undertaking a full review of our capital spending to prioritise the available funding towards projects that drive progress against our priorities."We will provide clarity over which projects and programmes will receive funding in the medium term when we publish our new infrastructure pipeline, alongside the 2026-27 Budget and Scottish Spending Review."The publication of the new pipeline will put our capital budget back on a sustainable trajectory." The treatment centres which are open The four NTCs up and running are in Clydebank, Kirkcaldy, Inverness and are used by all of Scotland's health boards and have been regarded as a successful addition to the NHS's capacity to deal with growing demand and the NTC at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert is only partially facility's operating theatres and MRI scanner are in use but its 30-bed ward has faced a series of due to open in 2022, the inpatient ward was largely finished by 2023 but then a safety review found ventilation and fire safety issues.A technical solution to these issues has still to be approved by local authority planners and NHS Forth Valley said it can't say when the ward will open until this happens.
