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Millions of women in England who have missed cervical screening appointments will be offered free home testing kits on the NHS.
The move comes amid concerns that only two-thirds of women attend in-person cervical screening appointments when asked to do so, leaving as many as 4 million women not up to date.
The rollout is being described as a “gamechanger”, offering a “discreet and convenient option” to encourage more women to get screened.
The kits contain a swab to collect a sample from the vagina. This is then posted back to the NHS free, where it is tested in labs for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).
If high-risk HPV is detected, patients will then be asked to attend a cervical screening appointment with a clinician.
HPV is a group of viruses that can be passed on through sexual contact and cause no symptoms. About 13 high-risk types of the virus are known to cause 99.7% of cervical cancers.
Starting on Tuesday, eligible women between 30 and 65 who have not attended screening appointments will be sent invitations via the NHS app, text message, email or letter.
They will then be able to order a kit through the app or website. The scheme is part of the NHS’s target of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
Dr Sue Mann, national clinical director for women’s health at NHS England, said: “Screening saves thousands of lives each year by preventing cancers and catching them earlier, but only around two-thirds of women are attending cervical screening appointments when invited by the NHS.
“Offering millions of women an alternative test they can do from the comfort of their own homes will be a gamechanger – making it easier than ever for them to get tested for HPV.”
Women aged between 24 and 64 are invited for cervical screening every five years, or more often if HPV is detected.
The latest figures from NHS England show 68.8% of eligible women are up to date with cervical screening, below the 80% target. It means about 4 million women are not up to date, according to NHS estimates.
“There are lots of reasons that may stop women from getting their cervical screening – embarrassment, lack of time, or worries about discomfort – and these kits provide a discreet and convenient option we hope will encourage more women to take up the life-saving test,” said Mann.
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“So, if you’re invited to take part, please order a test – it’s a simple swab you can do at home in minutes.”
Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal, welcomed the move, saying that self-testing at home would be a “step-change” for many women.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Cervical screening is a powerful tool that saves lives – it can prevent cervical cancer or spot it at an earlier stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.
“While it’s best for cervical screening to be done by a nurse or doctor, there are barriers that make it challenging for some people to attend. At-home HPV self-testing kits will help more people take part in a way that works for them.”
Yvette Cooper, the health secretary, said the aim was to make it as easy and convenient as possible for women to keep up with their screening. She said: “This is the future NHS we are building – there for all of us when we need it, and acting as early as possible to stop preventable deaths.”
