As part of the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan, the government have announced the initiative to offer HPV self-sampling tests that could help screen more than one million women for cervical cancer
Results from two locally run studies have shaped the plans announced last week by the Department of Health and Social Care to add at-home HPV testing to the cervical screening programme. Planning to begin next year, the kits will be provided to those who have missed their invite, making care more convenient and supporting our shift from treatment to prevention.
The Youscreen trial was undertaken in 2021 and involved 133 GP Practices across London offering self-sampling kits to women and people with a cervix who were at least six months overdue for their cervical screening.
The trial results were published last year in eClinicalMedicine. Researchers found offering self-sampling kits to under-screened women when they attend their GP practice and by posting kits to women’s homes could boost the numbers screened in England by about 400,000 each year – and over a million over three years.
A second trial, HPValidate, tested self-sampling at screening sites to identify the most accurate and effective kits. The project was run from the UK National Screening Committee and also surveyed participants on their experiences and attitudes towards using self-sampling in the future. Final results from the study showed almost everyone who took part in the study reported that they had an excellent (75%) or good (23%) experience taking a sample with a swab.
Cervical screening (sometimes called a smear test) is for people without cancer symptoms. It works by testing for high-risk forms of HPV, the virus that causes 99.7% of cervical cancers.
Cervical cancer is highly preventable through screening, however uptake of screening offered through the NHS Cervical Screening Programme has been declining. A 2023-34 report from NHS Cervical Screening Programme found that only 68.8% of 25 to 64-year-olds were screened within the recommended period of time – well below the NHS England target of 80%.
People don’t attend in-person cervical screening tests for a number of reasons – from difficulty in getting an appointment to barriers like pain and embarrassment.
Dr Anita Lim, Chief Investigator of the YouScreen trial and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London, said:
This is a significant step forward for cervical cancer prevention and brings us closer to the NHS goal of eliminating the disease by 2040. The YouScreen trial, which provided self-sampling HPV kits to under-screen women in London, demonstrated that self-sampling could reach people who find it difficult to attend traditional screening, including those from diverse and underserved populations.
It’s hugely positive to see this now reflected in national policy, helping more people get protected from this highly preventable cancer.
Gem, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2015, said:
My cervical cancer was picked up during a routine screening by my GP. I was referred for surgery to remove the cancer cells, as well as lymph nodes from my abdomen and pelvis.
It took me about 6 weeks to recover, and because it was caught early and hadn’t spread, I was told at my follow-up appointment that I was cancer-free and didn’t require further treatment.
I’ve been cancer-free for years now, but I still live with the aftermath of my diagnosis. I hope that one day we live in a world where cervical cancer is eliminated. With advances in vaccines and screening, I believe that day is getting ever closer.
For many, though, there are barriers to attending screening. Our everyday lives are busy juggling jobs, family life and more, which can make attending appointments difficult. But feelings of embarrassment, fear or unease can also prevent people from going.
Making it easier for people to access screening they can do at home removes some of those barriers and will, I’m sure, save lives.
If I hadn’t attended screening when I did, I’m certain I would have been facing a very different outcome. I will always be thankful that I went when I did and now try to use my experience to help others.
Michelle Kane, NHS Director of Vaccination and Screening Delivery and Transformation, said:
There are a number of reasons that stop some women taking up the offer of screening and we hope the introduction of self-testing will encourage more women to take up this life-saving test in a way that works for them.
I’d encourage anyone who gets an invite for a cervical screening, either from their local GP practice or the NHS App, to attend and if you have any worrying symptoms, please contact your GP. It could save your life.
Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary, said:
These self-sampling kits represent healthcare that works around people’s lives, not the other way around. They put women firmly in control of their own health, ensuring we catch more cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages.
Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally reform the NHS, shifting focus from treating illness to preventing it before it starts.
We know the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the chances are of survival. By making screening more convenient, we’re tackling the barriers that keep millions of women from potentially life-saving tests.
The Youscreen trial was sponsored by University College London and coordinated by King’s College London in partnership with NHS Cancer Alliances in North Central and North East London, NHS England and the NHS Cervical Screening Programme. The work was funded by the Cancer Alliances for north central and east London, with additional supportive funding from Cancer Research UK.
HPValidate was led by Queen Mary University of London and funded by DHSC.
The landmark announcement has been reported on by a number of organisations, with further reading available at the following sources:
Home testing kits for lifesaving checks against cervical cancer - GOV.UK
Cervical screening home test kits will be rolled out in England from next year | The BMJ
Home testing kits for lifesaving checks against cervical cancer | UCLH Biomedical Research Centre
At-home HPV test kits to be offered to thousands of women in England - BBC News
NHS 10-year plan: HPV home test kits to be rolled out | Nursing Times
Image: Wikimedia Commons