NHS makes major change to cervical cancer screenings for younger women
Women aged 25 to 49 who test negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) will be invited to cervical screening every five years instead of every three, under new NHS guidelines.
The change, set to take effect next month in England, follows recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee.
According to analysis from King's College London, extending the screening interval to five years for HPV-negative women is just as safe as the current three-year interval, with a similar rate of cancer detection.
HPV is a sexually transmitted group of viruses, with around 13 high-risk types known to cause almost all cases of cervical cancer. Most people with HPV don't experience any symptoms.
Women who test positive for HPV, or have a history of the virus, will continue to be invited for more frequent screenings to monitor the virus and check for any changes to cells in the cervix.
In a written statement to Parliament, health minister Ashley Dalton said the new change 'increases the opportunities to test and recall women and people with a cervix who have HPV, while extending the cervical screening intervals from three to five years in England for individuals who have a negative HPV test.
'This will bring England's cervical screening intervals in line with those of Wales and Scotland.'
She said the NHS screening programme in England provides all women between the ages of 25 and 64 'with the opportunity to be screened routinely to detect HPV infection or cervical abnormalities at an early, more treatable stage'.
She added: 'The aim of the programme is to reduce the number of women who develop invasive cervical cancer and reduce the number who die from it.'
Ms Dalton said testing negative for HPV means the chances of developing cancer within five years are very small, as it can take around 10 years or more from the time HPV is detected to developing cervical cancer.
She added: 'Those who test positive for HPV are already being followed up with yearly testing.
'This is important to ensure that individuals are monitored for any early signs of cervical abnormalities and provided the necessary treatment.'
Experts have been concerned about falling numbers of women under 50 attending cervical screening, with around a third in England not taking up their invitations.
Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women's health, said: 'Taking a more personalised approach to cervical screening will help ensure everyone eligible can make the most of these life-saving services, while sparing women appointments that they don't need.
'The NHS is following robust evidence on how often women need to be safely screened, and by putting invitations and reminders straight in women's pockets on their phones, we're making it easier than ever to take up screening appointments.
'Make sure you come forward for your screening when you're invited, even if it was weeks, months or years ago. If you think you are due but have not yet had an invitation, speak to your GP practice.'
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'We welcome this change to cervical screening in England, which is the result of years of vital research to make screening more effective and has shown it is safe to extend the time between tests.
'Screening, alongside the roll out of the HPV vaccine – which Cancer Research UK scientists helped develop – have seen cervical cancer rates drop by around a quarter since the early 1990s, and we look forward to even more progress.
'If you notice any unusual changes for you, do not wait for a screening invitation – speak to your doctor.'
Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal, said: 'We want every eligible person to feel empowered to attend a vaccination and cervical screening appointment when they are invited so we can achieve the brilliant ambition of eliminating cervical cancer.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Waste depot staff given free health checks as part of initiative in Colchester
STAFF at a waste and recycling depot in Colchester have received free health checks as part of a workplace wellbeing initiative. The checks were conducted at the Shrub End depot by the NHS on the Open Road SOS Bus using a SiSU machine. This initiative identified staff with possible undiagnosed hypertension and formed part of Colchester Council's week-long focus on the health and wellbeing of its staff. The SiSU machine measured not only blood pressure, but also heart rate, body composition, and body mass index. Enthusiastic depot employees hopped aboard the bus for their checks. Mike Watkins, one of the staff members, expressed his gratitude, saying: "It makes us feel valued. "I'm keen to find out about my blood pressure and learn what to do about it if it's not where it should be." Martyn Peck (Image: Suffolk and North East Essex ICB) Worker Darren Hammett added: "I haven't had my blood pressure checked in a while, so I've come along today to find out what it is." The initiative also received positive feedback from staff, including Kevin Cook, who recommended other large workplaces to adopt similar practices. He said: "It's important to look after your health." Similarly, Martyn Peck expressed his desire for reassurance about his health and praised the initiative for aiding the early detection of health problems. Dr. Hasan Chowhan, senior partner at Creffield Medical Group, outlined the significance of the initiative. He said: "High blood pressure is a silent killer. "Many people don't realise they have the condition until they have a heart attack or stroke. "The good news is that it's possible to get it under control. For some that may mean making a few lifestyle changes; others will need to take medications as well. "These simple steps could save your life. "They could also help save your quality of life as both strokes and heart attacks can leave people with long-term disabilities." The initiative was planned with the indispensable support of the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board. Nerinda Evans, director of strategic programmes at the care board, said: "We helped to put on this event because we saw it as a great opportunity to talk to people directly about the dangers of undiagnosed high blood pressure. "Prevention is the key thing here. We are actively trying to support people before they have a heart attack or stroke. "We hope everyone at Colchester Recycling Centre will tell their friends and family about the importance of checking your blood pressure to help spread this important message.' The Open Road SOS Bus, commissioned by Essex County Council, plays a vital role in delivering workplace health checks, acting as a key aspect of its services. Stacey Banner, welfare and volunteer manager for the bus, said: "Early detection is crucial in preventing serious health conditions. "We are dedicated to ensuring that all individuals have access to fundamental healthcare services." This event also provided information about the new urgent care dental service, offering NHS treatment in one to seven days for problems like toothache, infections, and broken fillings. John Spence, councillor responsible for children's services, adult social care, public health and integration at Essex County Council, said: "Healthy workforces are happy and competitive workforces. "By taking the stations directly to local people, we are making health checks accessible and helping residents, especially those in manual jobs, take control of their health." The council's proactive approach extends beyond health checks, offering mental health support and other wellbeing aids for staff. Julie Young, deputy leader of Colchester Council and councillor responsible for housing, said: "We're proud to support initiatives that put our staff's wellbeing first. "The health checks at the household waste and recycling depot are a simple but powerful reminder that prevention saves lives. "This is exactly the kind of proactive approach we want to see more of across our workplaces – making it easier for people to take control of their health and stay well." People wanting workplace health checks, mental health support, or other staff wellbeing support can contact:
USA Today
18 hours ago
- USA Today
RFK Jr. dismissing experts creates deadly vaccine hesitancy
Kennedy has long planted the seeds of vaccine hesitancy, despite evidence that contradicts his falsehoods. Now we are once again seeing more children succumb to vaccine-preventable diseases. Since 1964, pediatricians have looked to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding childhood vaccines. We represent more than 80 years of experience as pediatricians in Nashville and have benefitted from ACIP throughout our careers. On June 9, our clinic days were disrupted by the news that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had dismissed all 17 ACIP members. These members are academic clinicians, epidemiologists, immunologists and infectious disease experts. Their service was driven not by money or fame, but by a commitment to the collective health of Americans. ACIP meetings were transparent, being broadcast live and then archived on YouTube, while agendas were posted well in advance of each meeting. The public could request to ask questions at meetings as well as review slide decks that were presented. ACIP worked to avoid member conflicts of interest Kennedy's implication that he was reconstructing the committee to prevent conflicts of interest is far from the truth. In order to preserve objectivity and limit corporate influence on their recommendations, ACIP members already disclose any potential conflict of interest in advance. If a member has a potential conflict, they are not permitted to participate in vaccine discussions, or to vote on that vaccine or any vaccine that a company might bring before ACIP – even if that member didn't work on that specific vaccine. Opinion: As a doctor, I know it will take more than dietary changes to Make America Healthy Again Kennedy also implied that ACIP only ever adds vaccines to the schedule, acting as a rubber stamp for industry. But ACIP recommendations came after analyzing evidence and weighing the benefits and risks. The 1972 decision to stop vaccinating for smallpox was a significant and very well-informed move, reflecting an in-depth understanding of both the science and the broader public health context. The 2016 recommendation to reduce the number of doses for the HPV vaccine also shows that ACIP actively engaged in fine-tuning vaccination schedules based on the latest research, rather than to increase industry profits. It's crucial for these bodies to make decisions based on science, not external pressures or adherence to a certain ideology. Kennedy creates vaccine hesitancy that lead to childhood diseases As pediatricians, we have seen patients die from vaccine-preventable diseases. Our pediatric forefathers cared for children in iron lungs due to paralytic polio. Opinion: Please stop letting RFK Jr. make vaccine policies. His new COVID plan is deadly. Kennedy has planted the seeds of the anti-vaccination movement for more than two decades, despite evidence that contradicts his falsehoods. Due to the vaccine hesitancy and refusal he promotes, we are once again seeing more children succumb to vaccine-preventable diseases in America. So far in 2025, we have had pediatric deaths from measles and whooping cough, not to mention more than 200 deaths from influenza. Those numbers will only escalate in the future. Kennedy's decision to eliminate trustworthy members of the ACIP fundamentally changes the nature of this committee. Institutional memory and the trust of physicians were obliterated in one fell swoop. We hold little hope that HHS can put a new trusted committee together in time for the next scheduled ACIP meeting Jun 25-26, given Kennedy's preference for conspiracy theorists and other unqualified people. Through our careers as community pediatricians, we have been blessed by the opportunity to partner with wonderful families who desire what is best for their children. We fervently hope this relationship will be the most important factor when families make decisions regarding vaccinating their children. We call on our elected officials to reinstate the ACIP members Kennedy dismissed and to empower them to continue their work to limit damage from infectious diseases. Doing so will actually help make Americans healthier. James Keffer, MD; Chetan R Mukundan, MD; Jill Obremsky, MD; Elizabeth Triggs, MD; and David Wyckoff, MD, are local pediatricians practicing in different settings around Nashville. This column originally appeared in The Tennessean.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Weight loss pill set to rival injections after promising studies
A new daily weight loss pill has shown promising results in initial studies. Researchers say amycretin, which can be offered by injection or tablet, helped patients lose a significant amount of weight in the first trials. Those who received higher doses of amycretin as a weekly jab lost 24.3 per cent of their body weight after 36 weeks of treatment, while patients who took daily tablets lost an average of 13.1 per cent of their body weight after 12 weeks. While weight loss jabs have been hailed as transformative by NHS leaders, injections come with additional work for over-stretched health services, so tablet forms of medication may offer a new hope for the millions of people looking to lose weight. It has been estimated that around 1.5 million Britons are having weight loss jabs, which have been either prescribed through specialist weight loss services or private prescriptions. GPs will be able to dish out jabs from next week. Amycretin, made by Novo Nordisk, helps to control blood sugar and appetite by targeting two specific receptors in the body – GLP-1 and the amylin receptor. An early trial in 125 adults testing weekly injections of amycretin, which has been published in The Lancet, found that those taking the highest dosage (60mg) lost 24.3 per cent after 36 weeks of treatment. It also showed signs of improving blood sugar levels. Side effects included nausea and vomiting, and were mostly mild to moderate and resolved by the end of treatment. 'These phase 1b/2a data support the potential of once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin as a therapeutic for people living with overweight or obesity,' the authors wrote. 'Amycretin appeared safe and tolerable, and there were significant reductions in body weight after 36 weeks of treatment.' The second early trial, published in the same journal, assessed amycretin in tablet form in 144 people over 12 weeks. There were mild to moderate side effects including loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Researchers found that people taking the highest dose of 100mg per day, lost 13.1 per cent of their body weight over four months. The authors wrote: 'Amycretin effectively lowered body weight and improved metabolic and glycaemic parameters in people with overweight or obesity. 'Longer studies with more participants are warranted for evaluation of the safety and efficacy of amycretin in individuals living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and to optimise the dosing regimen.' The studies were also presented at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in Chicago, in the US. It comes as a separate study, which was published at the same meeting, examined the effects of weight loss jab Wegovy at higher doses. Researchers found that giving patients 7.2mg of Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, once a week led to an average weight loss of 20.7 per cent, with a third of participants losing 25 per cent or more of their body weight after 72 weeks.
