It is reported by Cancer Research that there are around 3,200 new cervical cancer cases in the UK every year, (data last collated between 2016-2018). In Wales, it was reported in 2019 that around 160 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed annually. 

It has recently been reported that there will be changes to the cervical screening programme. The purpose of cervical screening (a smear test) is to check the health of the cervix, which is the opening to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to help prevent cancer. Cervical screening is performed by extracting a small sample of cells from the cervix. The new test, known as primary HPV (human papillomavirus) screening checks for certain types of HPV, which is the virus that leads to 99% of cervical cancers. If these types of HPV are found, the patient is regarded as “high risk” and is checked for abnormal changes to the cervical cancer. Left untreated, these types of HPV may turn into cancer.

The HPV vaccine is offered to girls and boys aged 12 to 13 years to decrease the chances of cervical cancer in later life. Vaccination before having sex for the first time is preferred as it means individuals are protected before being first exposed to HPV. The vaccine cannot rid the body of the virus once it has been caught. First, real-world data has shown that the HPV vaccine has cut cases of cervical cancer by nearly 90%.  

The BBC recently reported that Public Health Wales has implemented a new process which means people with a cervix, between the ages of 25 and 49, who tested negative for HPV will now wait five years instead of three between cervical screenings. Public Health Wales has justified this change because the new tests are “more effective”. The same policy has been implemented in Scotland. England and Northern Ireland continue to offer this age group cervical screening every three years.

There are concerns that the change by Public Health Wales may decrease the chances of HPV being detected. One reason includes that people at “three years don’t always attend”, and the same may happen at five years. Another reason is that most 25 to 49-year-olds have not had the vaccine, so extending the timeframe for cervical screening at this present time is riskier. It is recognised that more focus is required to encourage individuals to attend cervical screening appointments and boost vaccination efforts. Such focus is required across the UK. Read the full BBC report here.       

The effects of misdiagnosed cancer or a delay in the diagnosis can have tragic consequences. If you are concerned that a mistake has been made at any stage of your, or a family member’s, cancer screening or care, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Please call us on 0116 254 7456 for a no-obligation discussion or send us an email at enquiries@moosaduke.com.