NHS England to send home HPV test kits to women who missed cervical screening
Millions of women in England who are behind on cervical screening will be able to order free home kits to check for high-risk HPV.
Women in England who have missed cervical screening will be offered free home testing kits through the NHS, in a move aimed at finding high-risk human papillomavirus earlier. The programme is expected to reach nearly four million eligible women.
According to NHS England, the kits will let women collect their own sample at home and return it for testing, rather than attending an in-person appointment. The service is intended for those who are not up to date with routine screening.
The rollout comes as health officials try to improve participation in cervical screening, after figures showed only about two-thirds of women attend when invited. NHS England has set a goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040.
The new option follows growing concern that missed appointments leave a large number of women without current screening results. HPV testing is used to identify the virus that can lead to cervical cancer.
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