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<p>We welcome the Demos report <em>Behind the screen: “Revealing the true cost of
cervical cancer…”</em>, which we have discussed in detail with Public Health England
(PHE). On the specific recommendations in the report:</p><p> </p><p>- it is NHS Cervical
Screening Programme policy that general practitioners should offer ‘on the spot' cervical
screening tests to women during other appointments, as long as they are overdue. In
2012-13, more than 500,000 were taken without an immediate invitation;</p><p>- on
awareness campaigns, PHE is looking at a number of other cancers for potential local
pilot tests within the Be Clear on Cancer programme, and a decision will be made later
in the summer;</p><p>- a strategy on using celebrities or religious leaders to improve
coverage would need to be tied in with any overall marketing campaign, but previous
experience shows that this only has a short term effect and needs frequent repetition.
The publicity around Jade Goody, diagnosis, illness and subsequent death, brought
in many under-screened women, but this dissipated within months following Jade's death
at the end of March 2009; and</p><p>- PHE has funded research on the effects of mother/daughter
relationships on uptake of screening and vaccination, including in lower socio-economic
groups. PHE would be very happy to discuss this with Demos and Jo's Cervical Cancer
Trust.</p><p> </p><p>We know that for a number of reasons coverage rates amongst women
have fallen slightly over the last decade, as highlighted further in the report, and
a considerable amount of work is underway to tackle this decline. The third annual
report of our Cancer Outcomes Strategy said that a priority for 2014-15 will be to
improve screening uptake amongst disadvantaged groups. PHE is undertaking analysis
on local screening programmes with poor coverage, and will work with them to develop
action plans to increase coverage in their local areas.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically
on younger women, the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment
programme has commissioned a £1 million study to determine which interventions are
effective at increasing screening uptake amongst women who are receiving their first
invitation from the programme. We also know that coverage rates are lower in certain
communities. NHS Cancer Screening Programmes have worked with Jo's Cervical Cancer
Trust to host two events looking at challenges to screening uptake among black and
minority ethnic communities, and a third event is due to be held in Birmingham in
July 2014. NHS Cancer Screening Programmes has also funded an award winning Lesbian
and Gay Foundation's <em>Are You Ready for Your Screen Test?</em> campaign targeting
lesbian and bisexual women to raise awareness about the need to attend for regular
cervical screening tests.</p><p> </p><p>Regarding costs discussed in the report, we
will ensure that the report is sent to colleagues in NHS England who are responsible
for commissioning the cervical screening service. The report will also be discussed
at the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening in the autumn.</p><p>
</p><p>Acceptable and achievable standards for cervical screening coverage rates are
being discussed as part of the update of the cervical screening service specification
attached to the NHS public health functions agreement: Public health functions to
be exercised by NHS England (Section 7a agreement) for 2015-16.</p><p> </p><p>We are
fully supportive of Cervical Screening Awareness Week (CSA Week) and the work Jo's
Cervical Cancer Trust does, who I met recently.</p><p> </p><p>I wrote to all Members
of Parliament on 11 June to draw their attention to CSA Week, update them on national
and local screening statistics and ask for their support in promoting take-up of screening.
In addition, the Department and PHE promoted CSA Week on social media.</p>
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