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<p>NHS England has reviewed the data from 2013 showing the continuing gradual national
and international decline in the five-year coverage. Assessments for the decline were
done in partnership with key stakeholders Public Health England (PHE) and Jo’s Cervical
Cancer Trust.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England hosted a spotlight session in April 2016 which
focussed on gaining insight into the reasons why women do or do not attend for screening.
This suggested that ease of access together with attitudinal changes to informed choice,
may contribute to this widespread reduction in uptake.</p><p> </p><p>Jo’s Cervical
Cancer Trust published a report in January 2018 suggesting that some young women did
not attend cervical screening appointments because they were embarrassed about their
body, while others did not think the test was important and were not at risk because
they led healthy lifestyles.</p><p> </p><p>NHS England and PHE have therefore modified
the commissioning levers and communication processes, for example through supporting
Jo’s Trust in the Time to Screen campaign and the development of a new ‘Be Clear on
Cancer’ campaign for early 2019 promoting uptake of cervical screening.</p><p> </p><p>NHS
England has supported the Cancer Alliances who bring together local senior clinical
and managerial leaders representing the whole cancer patient pathway across a specific
geography, and have a general role in improving early diagnosis. In turn they have
developed specific plans to improve uptake rates in screening programmes as part of
that agenda with cervical screening considered a priority area.</p><p> </p><p>Cancer
Research UK (CRUK) and Macmillan general practitioners (GPs) are also being utilised
to provide awareness and training, with work and focus groups to target reducing inequalities
among women over 50 and women from Eastern European countries a specific focus in
one region. The role that sexual health clinics can play in providing access to screening
among vulnerable women via an opportunistic offer of screening is being considered.</p><p>
</p><p>Training of GP receptionists is underway to improve ease of access to a screening
appointment, while a toolkit has been developed to reduce the inequality in uptake
among women with a learning disability.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, NHS England recently
announced that Professor Sir Mike Richards has been asked to lead a review of cancer
screening programmes which will consider ways to increase uptake of cervical screening.</p>
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