Thousands of Notts women to be offered NHS home HPV testing kits
Thousands of Notts women to be offered NHS home HPV testing kits
Thousands of women across Nottinghamshire who have not attended cervical screening appointments will be offered a home HPV testing kit as part of a national rollout.
The NHS has started rolling out HPV self-testing kits to encourage more women to complete their potentially life-saving screening to detect human papillomavirus (HPV), which can increase the risk of cervical cancer.
Dr Dave Briggs, Executive Director of Outcomes (Medical) at NHS Derby and Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB cluster, said: "In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, 72.5% of eligible women are up to date with their cervical screening, which is below the national target.
"Cervical screening is one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer, but we know that not everyone takes up the offer when invited.
"People tell us there can be many reasons for this, including embarrassment, concerns about discomfort, anxiety, or simply finding it difficult to fit appointments around work and family life.
"By offering a safe and convenient test that can be completed at home, we hope more women will feel able to take part in this life-saving programme.”
Data from March 2024 shows that approximately 86,000 eligible women in the area were not up to date with cervical screening, representing 27.5% of the eligible population.
Cervical screening appointments with a clinician remain an important part of the programme, and people who routinely attend for cervical screening at their GP practice should continue to book their appointments as normal.