Introduction

Cervical screening supports detection of cell abnormalities that may become cancer and is estimated to save 4,500 lives in England each year. This indicator provides an opportunity to incentivise the promotion of age-appropriate cervical screening and other local initiatives to increase coverage of cervical screening. Improvements in coverage would mean more cervical cancer is prevented or detected at earlier, more treatable stages.

Cervical screening, which used to be called smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It's offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64.

Data Overview

Data below for 25 to 49 year olds is presented as the 3.5-year cervical screening coverage (%). This is the number of eligible women aged 25 to 49 who had an adequate cervical screening test recorded in the previous 42 months divided by the total number of eligible women aged 25 to 49, for those registered to the practice on last day of the review period. For 50 to 64 year olds, this is presented as the 5.5-year cervical screening coverage (%). This is the number of eligible women aged 50 to 64 who had an adequate cervical screening test recorded in the previous 66 months divided by the total number of eligible women aged 50 to 64, for those registered to the practice on the last day of the review period. This is due to differences in the frequency these age groups are recalled for cervical screening.

Oldham's latest cervical screening coverage for 25 to 49 year olds is 67.4%. This is similar to the regional average of 67.5% and the national average of 67%. Coverage for all areas is on a downward trend, with a reduction is rate of around 8% since 2009/10. Oldham has the 4th lowest coverage across Greater Manchester. Big differences exist between practices, with the rate of the highest performing practice (Saddleworth Medical Practice - 80%) almost twice that of the lowest performing practice (Werneth Medical Practice - 42%).

Figure 1: Cervical screening coverage, 25 to 49 years, trend
Source: NHS England, Cervical Screening Programme

Figure 2: Cervical screening coverage, aged 25 to 49 years, across Greater Manchester
Source: NHS England, Cervical Screening Programme

Figure 3: Cervical screening coverage, aged 25 to 49 years, by Oldham GP Practice
Source: NHS England, Cervical Screening Programme

A similar trend can be observed in the older age group (50 to 64 year olds), with Oldham's latest rate of 74.2% comparable to the regional (73.7%) and national (74.9%) averages. Again, data is on a downward trend across all areas, although to a lesser extent compared to the younger age group. Oldham's latest rate 50 to 64 year old screening coverage is 5th highest across Greater Manchester. Chadderton Medical Practice has the highest coverage for this age group at 84%, whilst Werneth Medical Practice has the lowest coverage at 45%.

Figure 4: Cervical screening coverage, aged 50 to 64 years, trend
Source: NHS England, Cervical Screening Programme

Figure 5: Cervical screening coverage, aged 50 to 64 years, across Greater Manchester
Source: NHS England, Cervical Screening Programme

Figure 6: Cervical screening coverage, aged 50 to 64 years, by Oldham GP Practice
Source: NHS England, Cervical Screening Programme 

Further Information & Resources

OHID Cancer Services Data Profile
Additional data and information relating to cervical screening

NHS Cervical Screening Information
Information for patients from the NHS relating to cervical screening

Cancer Research UK Cervical Screening Information
Information from Cancer Research UK relating to cervical screening

Healthwatch Blog on Barriers to Cervical Screening
This blog brings together some of the key challenges people have shared about cervical screening with local Healthwatch and outlines the steps that are being taken nationally to address those.
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