The Health Secretary Shona Robison has told Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs that the Scottish Government will tomorrow launch a new hard-hitting campaign on cervical cancer screening to encourage more women to have a smear test. Miles tabled a series of written Parliamentary questions on the subject on behalf of Lothian constituents and charity stakeholders who were alarmed at the fall in the uptake rates for smear tests. Cervical screening uptake is now at a 10-year low in Scotland, and more women each year are being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Speaking today Miles, who is also a Co-Convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Cancer, said:
“ It is of real concern that more than a quarter of eligible women in Scotland did not attend cervical screening last year. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 and is also increasing in women over 50. Screening is extremely important in detecting cervical abnormalities and women can receive effective treatment before cancer develops.
“ I therefore welcome the news of a new awareness campaign from the Scottish Government and I hope it will help increase uptake rates for smear tests. Smear tests can help prevent around 80% of cervical cancers from developing.
“ I also hope that the Scottish Government will refocus its efforts to increase cervical screening coverage for the hardest to reach groups including black and minority ethnic women and women with learning disabilities as these groups have lagged behind compared to others.”
