‘Cervical cancer has affected generations of my family - NHS changes mean women like me could be missed out’
Mother launches petition over changes to cervical cancer screening
- Gemma Barley, whose family has a history of cervical cancer, discovered abnormal cells during a routine three-year check-up, despite her previous screening being clear.
- She is worried about new NHS England guidelines that extend cervical screening intervals from three to five years for women aged 25-49 who test negative for HPV.
- Ms Barley, a mother of one, fears these extended intervals could endanger women's lives, citing her own experience where abnormalities appeared quickly between screenings.
- She has launched a petition to reverse the changes, arguing that rapid cellular changes necessitate more frequent monitoring.
- NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have defended the new guidelines, stating they are based on robust scientific evidence and the increased accuracy of HPV testing.