4 million take part in UK cervical screening programme
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Almost four million women were screened for cervical cancer in England by the National Health Service in 1999-2000, according to figures published last week by the Department of Health in its sixth annual bulletin. The data is based on the 4.3 million smears examined by England's cervical cytology laboratories in the year to March 31 2000. Almost all of the 3.9 million smears submitted by general practitioners or community clinics were taken as part of the national screening programme. National policy is to invite all women aged 20-64 for screening every 3-5 years. 84% of women aged 25-64 had been screened in the previous five years.