Lincolnshire County Council praised for its cervical screening campaign

Lincolnshire County Council has been praised for its efforts to help improve cervical screening uptake in the county.

A new report by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has been published, highlighting activities and action that local authorities are undertaking to increase cervical screening coverage.

Cervical screening uptake in England is decreasing and is now at a 20-year low. One of the key findings of the report is that 20 per cent of local authorities have undertaken comprehensive and targeted work to improve cervical screening attendance, including Lincolnshire County Council.

Commissioner for Lincolnshire Sexual Health Services, Carol Skye, said: “Cervical screening saves lives, including my own.

“One way that we’re encouraging cervical screening uptake is by offering the test opportunistically through sexual health clinics, especially to vulnerable women.

“We do this on an ad hoc basis rather than offering it to everyone as we would still encourage women to arrange their cervical screening through their GP so they will be reminded regularly when they’re due to attend screening.

“The work we’re doing to improve uptake of cervical screening is in partnership with NHS England and Cancer Research UK. NHS England are also looking at new ways to expand the offer and provide greater choice for women.”

Executive councillor for adult care and health at the county council, Coun Patricia Bradwell, said: “Cervical screening is a really important way of detecting any early changes that could lead to cancer, and enable treatment as soon as possible.”