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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

New rules for smear testing in Scotland

This news post is almost 8 years old
 

Voluntary health bodies are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with new rules on which women need to be screened for cervical cancer

Young women under 25 years old no longer need to get a smear test in Scotland.

NHS Health Scotland is urging health organisations to get to grips with the new rules about which women need cervical screening.

Data shows that screening women below the age of 25 has little or no impact on rates of invasive cervical cancer

From 6 June, the screening age will increase from 20 to 25 years unless they have already been invited for screening under the age of 25, while the older age at which women will continued to be screen at has increased to 64 years, up from 60 years.

The frequency will continue to be every three years from ages 25 to 49, but will change to be every five years for women from age 50 to 64.

Some women on follow-up will be invited over the age of 65. This will be where a woman’s last test was non-routine. Women who have had changes identified during screening will be invited up to the age of 70 years (currently 68 years).

Carol Colquhoun, national coordinator screening programmes at National Services Division, said: “Changes have been decided based on a review of evidence about the effectiveness and benefits of screening women across age ranges. Data shows that screening women below the age of 25 has little or no impact on rates of invasive cervical cancer. For women over 50, five-yearly screening offers adequate protection and women up to the age of 64 can benefit from cervical screening.

“Women will continue to be invited for screening by receiving a letter and leaflet automatically sent from the Scottish Cervical Call Recall System (SCCRS). There will be cases when a woman aged between 20–24 years is invited on or after 6 June 2016 because she has previously been invited as part of the programme before the changes were implemented.

"Health professionals should refer to the SCCRS before a smear test is taken to ensure the woman is eligible. Tests taken from women not eligible for screening will not be processed by the laboratory.”

Research shows that many women still do not understand the benefits of cervical screening or the risk of cervical cancer. It is important that women are given appropriate information about cervical screening, are informed about the benefits and reassured and given further information by health professionals who are best placed to answer women’s questions. Cervical screening saves approximately 5,000 lives in the UK every year.

Nurses should continue to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer and any woman with symptoms should immediately go to see their doctor.

All public facing information materials have been updated to reflect the changes as well as emphasising the benefits of cervical screening. They are much clearer, easier to read and hopefully will engage more women.