Statement: Free at-home HPV tests mark important step towards a future free from cervical cancer

Yorkshire Cancer Research is pleased to see the NHS begin rolling out free at-home HPV testing kits to women who have not attended cervical screening appointments, marking an important milestone in making cervical screening more accessible and helping to eliminate cervical cancer for good.  

Yorkshire Cancer Research has long supported the introduction of at-home HPV testing and welcomed the Government's commitment, set out last year in the 10-Year Health Plan, to adopt this approach.

Cervical screening is crucial because cervical cancer is almost completely preventable. Yet, in Yorkshire, around three in ten women invited for screening do not attend their appointment.  

Research funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research is already demonstrating the potential of self-sampling to increase participation in cervical screening. Preliminary findings from the Catch-up Screen study suggest that at-home HPV testing was well received by women in Hull and Manchester aged 60 and over, with more than half taking up the offer. These findings highlight the significant opportunity HPV self-sampling presents to reach people who are currently missing out on potentially life-saving screening. 

There are many reasons why people do not attend cervical screening when invited, including embarrassment, concerns about discomfort, cultural barriers, transport costs and the challenge of fitting appointments around busy lives. Offering a test that can be completed at home provides a convenient and accessible option that could help more people benefit from life-saving tests, particularly those who face additional barriers to attending appointments and areas experiencing higher levels of deprivation.  

Research suggests introducing self-sampling could help more than 100,000 additional women in Yorkshire take part in HPV screening over the next three years.

This introduction of at-home HPV testing kits marks an important step towards ensuring more people can benefit from early detection and prevention. Cervical cancer often does not cause symptoms in its early stages, which is why taking part in screening when invited is so important. Detecting HPV early can help prevent cervical cancer from developing and, in the rare cases where cancer is diagnosed, improve the chances of successful treatment.  

While self-sampling will help many more women take part in screening, it is not a complete solution. Some people will continue to face barriers to participation, including limited access to digital services, language barriers and concerns about carrying out the test themselves.  

It is therefore vital the Government continues to invest in pioneering methods that respond to the needs of different communities across Yorkshire. For example, Yorkshire Cancer Research recommends the appointment of a national lead for screening innovation, who can identify and support innovative approaches to screening programmes to increase participation, reduce health inequalities and ensure screening works for everyone, regardless of who they are or where they live. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research encourages everyone who is offered cervical screening, whether through an at-home test or a clinic appointment, to take up the opportunity. Screening saves lives and remains one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer. Combined with continued investment in innovative screening approaches and high uptake of the HPV vaccine, we can achieve a future free from cervical cancer.