Nationwide rollout of HPV kits
The government has announced that women and people with a cervix in England who have missed cervical cancer screenings will now be offered self-testing kits to use at home, as part of its forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan.
The initiative, announced on 24 June, is designed to break down persistent barriers to cervical screening including fear, embarrassment, cultural sensitivities and time pressures by offering human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in a convenient, private format.
Targeting the under-screened
Currently, cervical screening participation stands at just 68.8%, well below the NHS England target of 80%. Over five million women are not up to date with routine checks. Health leaders hope the self-sampling kits will raise uptake and save more lives screening already prevents around 5,000 deaths a year.
The discreet kits will be posted to under-screened individuals and returned via pre-paid mail. Positive HPV results will require a follow-up clinical screening.
Government shifts focus to prevention
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the policy forms part of a wider effort to move the NHS from “treatment to prevention,” while Michelle Kane, NHS Director of Screening, added: “These kits put women firmly in control of their health.”
The government is also reforming screening invitations, with new digital reminders via the NHS App, and extended intervals between tests for those who test negative for HPV.
Charities and patients welcome change
Cancer charities including The Eve Appeal and Cancer Research UK have praised the decision, noting it could particularly benefit younger women, disabled people, ethnic minorities and the LGBT+ community – all of whom face disproportionate barriers to screening.
Gem, a cervical cancer survivor diagnosed in 2015, said: “If I hadn’t attended screening when I did, I’m certain I’d be facing a very different outcome. Making it easier for people to access screening at home will save lives.”
The home testing scheme is a key milestone in the NHS’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
