More women are encouraged to come forward for cervical screening

This Cervical Screening Awareness Week (19th – 24th June 2025), the NHS urges eligible Londoners to come forward for their routine cervical screening checks when invited. 

In London, 1.1 million women and people with a cervix are invited for a cervical screening appointment each year, but only six in 10 take up the offer.

Jo Ruwende, Screening and Immunisations Public Health Consultant for the NHS in London, said: “Many people do not attend cervical screening because of fear or embarrassment. If you have any concerns, you can discuss these with your GP or practice nurse before, or at your appointment, and they can advise and support you during the process.

“I would urge all women to book their appointment as soon as they receive their invitation. Cervical screening lasts just a few minutes and saves lives.”

Cervical screening detects abnormal cells in the cervix and reduces risk of cervical cancer. Women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 will be invited to attend a smear test.

For Aoife Ní Bhriain, attending her cervical screening at her local GP clinic in 2019 saved her life, not once, but twice. Her results showed she had cancer and she underwent treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital to treat the cancer and remove her cervix.

Last December during one of her regular scans, the Royal Marsden team spotted and successfully removed a growth growing on her adrenal gland, which turned out to be a rare tumour that had cancerous cells.

She said: “It’s easy to consider yourself unlucky to have cancer once let alone twice, but I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the amazing care and the privilege of having a team of nurses and doctors who helped me in early detection and diagnosis.

“If that wonderful nurse hadn’t pulled me aside in 2019, it’s quite likely I would have waited until after the pandemic to have my smear test and I don’t want to think about how the cancer could have spread by then.

“If I could say anything about my experience it would be to get checked as often as possible and make it your priority to put your health first. My smear test saved my life, not only once but twice.”

The NHS in London has committed to eliminating cervical cancer by 2040 by achieving cervical screening rates of 70% and HPV vaccination rates of 90% by 2030.

Invitations are sent in the post when it’s time to book a cervical screening appointment, while women can also contact their GP surgery to book. Some sexual health clinics also offer the service.

Anyone who has previously received an invitation and been unable to attend shouldn’t wait for another invitation – you can still book a cervical screening appointment even if invited weeks, months or years ago.

More information on NHS cervical screening and how to book an appointment is available here.

Notes 

Figures from Cervical Screening (Annual) – NHS England Digital

Aoife Ní Bhriain is available for interview, as is Jo Ruwende, Screening and Immunisations Public Health Consultant for the NHS in London. Please contact london.commsteam@nhs.net for more information.