cervical cancer screening

The Public Health Agency (PHA) welcomes the publication of Sir Frank Atherton’s report on cervical screening. The report notes that there were a number of past failings in elements of the operation, governance and quality assurance of the cervical screening system. The PHA is sorry for its part in this and apologises to people who have been affected. This report, and the previous reviews that have been undertaken, have provided important direction which has helped strengthen service improvement in the screening programme, as well as highlighting shortcomings in how the system operated. In

This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding women of the importance of attending for cervical screening when invited. Screening is aimed at detecting early cell changes that could go on to develop into cancer if they are not treated. Between 2018 and 2022, there was an average of 84 people diagnosed with cervical cancer annually in Northern Ireland, with around 21 deaths per year. Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, said: “Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented thanks to screening, so it is really important to

This Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (21–28 January), the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding women of the importance of attending for cervical screening when invited. Katrina Jones from Belfast went for her routine cervical smear test in 2022 and after further investigations, found out she had cervical cancer. Katrina said: “I just went for a routine smear test and didn’t think anything of it. They called me back and I then had a biopsy. I could actually tell by the look on their faces that I had cancer. “I was expecting to be told I had cancer but thought I’d maybe have a few little