1.5m smear test results are late

ALMOST half of three million women screened for cervical cancer waited longer than the two-week target for results, research has shown.

Only 53 per cent of women given smear tests in the year to July were sent their results on time, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Providers must ensure that at least 98 per cent of results are turned around in the period. But just 16 out of 195 Clinical Commissioning Groups in England met the target between August 2017 and July 2018.

A total of 3,088,576 results letters were sent during this period with 47 per cent receiving late replies.

East Staffordshire CCG did not send out any results within 14 days, data from Public Health England revealed.

Robert Music, of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, warned that delays created unnecessary anxiety which “could put women off” attending appointments.

He said: “Lots of people have approached us through our helpline saying they are waiting 12, 14, 16 weeks for their results. It is creating anxiety which is not a healthy thing. With screening attendance already at a 20-year low, that is worrying.”

Mr Music added: “Cervical screenings prevent 75 per cent of cervical cancers and save more than 5,000 lives every year. So please go to your test if you are due one.”

New tests that screen for the HPV virus are being blamed for the delays.

An NHS England spokeswoman said it was “committed to the introduction of primary HPV screening which will identify more women at risk and save more lives”.