More women than ever in the West Midlands not being screened for cervical cancer
NHS England data has revealed that 4.6 million women in the UK haven't had screening tests or are behind on them.
Last updated 26th Jan 2023
Over a third of women in Birmingham aren't being screened for cervical cancer, with 24 percent of women in Shropshire the same.
These are record figures, with charities urging the government to do more to keep tackling the disease.
It's estimated that the numbers of women not going to screenings have been rising for the last five years.
Cervical Cancer is the 14th most common cancer among women in the UK, with 3,200 women diagnosed with it every year.
Women aged 25-64 are eligible for a cervical cancer screening test.
Kate Sanger is from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and said: "Cervical screening can help prevent cancer. It's not designed to diagnose cancer but sometimes it can pick up cancers that exist, and it's a really simple task.
"If you go to your GP, they will take a sample of cells from the cervix using a speculum and a small brush.
"It's a really straightforward test."
A number of different factors have been raised as to why women aren't going for the tests.
Kate said: "Literacy, the ability to get to a GP practice, having money to pass for a bus or for a car park.
"As, well there are a lot of other factors that play a role. In certain areas where English is a second language for people, you're going to get different barriers accessing healthcare."
The UK currently offers a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in schools together with a cervical screening programme and colposcopy services that help catch pre-cancerous cell changes.
The NHS is urging anyone eligible for cervical screening to come forward.