Coronavirus pandemic having devastating impact on access to cervical cancer screening
Latest NHS figures yesterday showed the proportion of eligible women who were up to date with screening rose slightly in 2019-20, to 72.2 percent. But Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust warned that the picture will now have changed as a result of the crisis.
Research by the charity has shown people at higher risk of developing severe Covid-19 and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities were less likely to attend screening during the pandemic.
Chief executive Robert Music said: “In a ‘normal’ year an increase in attendance could be a glimmer of hope.
“However, this year it must come with a dose of reality as these numbers represent the state of play before the pandemic.
“It is hard to say what the picture is now, but we have new challenges to contend with as a result of Covid-19 which include disruptions to services and public uncertainty about attending at the moment.”
