Cervical screening interval changed for low-risk younger women

Younger women at low risk of getting cervical cancer will be invited to cervical screenings at five-year intervals, instead of three, NHS England has announced.

It said the move was part of a ‘more personalised cervical screening’ offer, set to be introduced from next month.

From July, patients with a cervix aged 25 to 49 who test negative for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), who are at very low risk of getting cervical cancer during the next decade, will be invited to screenings at five rather than three-year intervals.

The change to five-year intervals has already been introduced in Scotland and Wales who introduced this change following the UK National Screening Committee’s (UKNSC) recommendation.

The approach is already being used for patients aged between 50 and 64 in England.

Individuals whose screening sample shows the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV will be invited to more frequent screenings to check whether their HPV has cleared or if any cell changes have developed.

A digital approach to screening care

Earlier this week, the NHS rolled-out digital invitations and reminders for cervical screening via the NHS App as part of a new ‘ping and book’ service to increase screening uptake.

Eligible patients will now receive an initial notification through the app to remind them to book a screening appointment, which will be followed by a text message if the app notification isn’t responded to.

Letters will still be available for those without access to the NHS App.

Dr Sue Mann, NHS national clinical director for women’s health, said that a more ‘personalised approach’ to screening will ensure that the relevant patients have the right support while helping to avoid unnecessary appointments for those at low risk of cervical cancer.

‘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,’ she added.

In 2024, the NHS in England introduced a new digital system to invite patients for screenings, allowing the health service to adapt screening intervals.

Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, described how nearly half the women the organisation polled last year said the freedom to book screenings via the NHS App would make them more likely to attend future appointments.

‘Reducing the number of times they need to attend, alongside sensitive and empathetic approaches by health professionals, will make these important appointments easier to manage,’ she said.

How is HPV tested for?

Since December 2019, all cervical screening samples in England have been tested for HPV.

This is seen to be more accurate than the previous method of cytology testing, known as the ‘smear test’.

A 2022 study by King’s College London researchers found that five-yearly screening is as safe as three-yearly checks, with the same number of cancers being found even with less regular tests.

Patients due for screening will still be invited at the interval they were told at the time of their last test.

Those who attend cervical screening on or after July 1, and meet the relevant clinical criteria, will have their next scheduled appointment for five years’ time.

In January, cancer charity the Eve Appeal said a lack of awareness about the adjustments available in cervical screening is preventing patients from attending appointments and ‘costing lives’.

In December, the RCN published guidance on providing cervical screening for physically disabled and autistic women.

Earlier last year, Healthwatch stressed the vital role nurses play in delivering cervical screening and stressed that nurses must understand the latest research into women’s views and experiences of screening as uptake continues to fall.