Cervical Cancer Screening Programme
Cervical screening aims to detect and treat abnormal changes in a woman's cervix (the neck of the womb) which, if left untreated, may develop into invasive cervical cancer.
The Scottish Cervical Screening Programme has been in place since 1989. All eligible women in Scotland between the ages of 20 and 60 are invited for a cervical smear test every three years. These tests are then processed at laboratories throughout Scotland and results are issued to the woman's GP. Women with non-negative smears are referred for further investigation and where necessary diagnosis and treatment (colposcopy).
Why Screen For Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is the 12th most common cancer in Scots women accounting for 2.2% of new cancer cases in women in 2002. There were 293 new cases diagnosed in women in Scotland in 2002 and 102 deaths from the disease in 2004.
Incidence of cervical cancer in Scotland has decreased by over 28% from 1992 to 2002 and the mortality rate has decreased by over 37% from 1994 to 2004.
Scottish Cervical Cytology Review Group
The Scottish Government Health Directorates (SGHD) has commissioned through the Scottish Cervical Cytology Review Group a review of cervical screening laboratory service delivery and its future provision, taking into account models of service delivery, management, manpower planning and technology changes.
The remit of the steering group is "To oversee the review of provision of laboratory services for the Cervical Cancer Screening Programme and to provide a report with recommendations for the future to NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government Health Directorates."
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