More than 15,000 Bedford women missed smear test due to pandemic

More than 15,000 Bedford women missed their smear test during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, figures suggest.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said a national drop in cervical screening combined with "unprecedented strain" on the health service could lead to more women being diagnosed with preventable cancers.

The charity's warning came as NHS England data showed nearly a third of the 50,827 women eligible for cervical screening in Bedford during 2020-21 did not attend an appointment.

Intended to detect abnormalities within the cervix, routine 'smear tests' are offered to women between the ages of 25 and 64 in an effort to prevent cervical cancer.

Around 70 per cent of eligible women in England were tested during the pandemic, but coverage dropped by 2 per cent compared to 2019-20.

In Bedford, 70 per cent of those eligible were screened – down from 72 per cent the year before.

It means an estimated 15,269 women in the area missed out on the potentially life-saving programme during the pandemic, when invites to screenings were temporarily suspended and appointments delayed.

Many women were also put off attending their screenings due to concerns about their risk of catching coronavirus during the appointment, according to research from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.

Samantha Dixon, the charity's chief executive, said the national drop in screenings was not unexpected in light of the pandemic but said it remained a worry.

She said: "Our health service is under unprecedented strain at the moment and facing a long winter.

"We cannot afford to let coverage slip further.

"It will only lead to even more cancers that could have been prevented.

"In some areas coverage is lower than one in two and that should be ringing alarm bells."

Cervical screenings look for changes in the cells of the cervix which could develop into cancer.

During the screenings, a soft brush is used to collect a small sample of cells which is then tested for any abnormalities.

Women aged 49 and under are invited for tests every three years while those older receive invites every five years.

Uptake in Bedford during 2020-21 was higher for older women, with 74 per cent of those aged 50 to 64 receiving a smear test, compared to 68 per cent% of women between 25 and 49.