During Cervical Screening Awareness Week (19^th – 24^th June) health professionals in Sefton are asking local women or anyone with a cervix age 25-64yrs to book a cervical screening, or a ‘smear test’.

In England, nearly 700 women a year still die from cervical cancer. 

How to book a test

If you have received your smear reminder letter from your GP, you can access your cervical screening from any of the following local options:

• Visit your GP practice
• Use the GP Extra Service (7 day services). This is for patients registered with Sefton GPs and your appointment needs to be made via your GP.
• Call Sefton Sexual Health on 01695 656550 and ask for a cervical screening appointment.

Plans are currently underway to provide a mobile drop-in cervical screening service at a range of sites within Sefton during August and September 2025. When available, more information will be shared on the Living Well Service webpage.

Who should book a test?

Everyone with a cervix should go for cervical screening even if you have received the HPV vaccine.

If you're a trans man or non-binary and have a cervix, you can speak to your GP, sexual health clinic or transgender health clinic about getting invitations routinely.

The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) has recommended that those testing negative won’t need to come for a cervical screening quite so often.

Why is cervical screening important?

By taking the screening, the health of your cervix can be checked, and any cervical cell changes can be treated, which then prevents the cancer.

Seeing the cervical cell changes is important because most cervical cancer is caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). These "high risk" types of HPV can cause changes to the cells of your cervix.

Concerned about the test?

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, is reassuring anyone concerned about taking the test: “Many people may avoid booking a cervical screening due to fear or uncertainty of what happens during the appointment.

“The test only takes a few minutes and may feel uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.

“If you are feeling any discomfort, you can tell the nurse and they will be happy to talk through the process with you if you are worried.

"Cervical screening is so important to help prevent cervical cancer by checking for signs of HPV.

“Attending your appointment could save your life.”

Some top tips for anyone taking the test

Some suggested ways to make the screening more comfortable include:

• Taking a trusted person along to the appointment.
• Speaking to the nurse or doctor about any concerns beforehand.
• Asking for a nurse or doctor of a certain gender.
• Asking for a smaller speculum if it is painful.
• Asking to lie in a different position.
• Asking for information in Easy Read or in your preferred language

The Sefton Sexual Health Service has a form of requests that can be downloaded in advance.

Some important changes to cervical screening

From July 2025, younger women (aged 25 to 49) who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at 5-year intervals rather than 3 years, in line with major clinical evidence.

Those whose sample indicates the presence of HPV or who have a recent history of HPV, which causes nearly all cervical cancers, will continue to be invited to more frequent screenings to check HPV has cleared and if not, if any cell changes have developed.

There’s no bad time to get checked

Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Mhairi Doyle said:

“While Cervical Screening Awareness Week is as good a time as any to reflect on the issue of cervical cancer, it must be stressed that there is no bad time to have a test that could potentially save your life. If you are eligible and have received a letter from your GP, please book your test”

More information  

For more information on cervical screening please visit the NHS cervical screening website