DIY smear tests for women ‘too embarrassed’ to visit GP

DIY smear tests will be introduced by the NHS in an bid to tackle the lowest screening numbers for 21 years.

Women will be sent kits allowing them to take their own sample at home, and post it back to the health service.

Officials hope that the pilot scheme means those who are too embarrassed to attend their GPS for cervical screening will take part in the programme.

Nearly one third of women ignored their latest invitation to be checked, official figures show – the worst since records began. Prof Sir Mike Richards, who is leading a review of cancer screening, told MPS that the NHS will pilot a scheme tried in the Netherlands, where postal kits led to a rise in uptake.

He said the “self sampling” model had shown great promise, and could be rolled out nationally if the pilot is successful.

“We may get to a different segment of the population by offering HPV selfsampling sets through the post,” he told the Commons public accounts committee.

The pilot scheme is likely to focus on women who have missed a screening, with a kit sent to them within a month of failing to respond to an appointment.

Simon Stevens, the NHS chief executive, told MPS that the health service will bring the administration of cervical cancer invitations back “in house”.

It follows an error which saw 50,000 women miss out on letters including screening invitations and results, following failings by Capita, the firm to which the work was outsourced.