---

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Answer

'Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer', published on 12 January, sets out how the Government will introduce human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as triage for women with mild or borderline cervical screening test results and HPV as a test of cure for treated women. The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2011-12 states that commissioners should work with their local services and NHS Cancer Screening Programmes (NHS CSP) to implement HPV testing as triage for women with mild or borderline results, leading to a more patient-centred service and major cost savings.The current intention is that, subject to meeting certain criteria, local cervical screening programmes will implement HPV triage in 2011-12 and HPV test of cure in 2012-13. Implementing both improvements in the same year would risk the quality and safety of the current programme and put an unnecessary burden on colposcopy services.The Department is currently preparing advice to the national health service that will be issued shortly, alongside implementation guidance from NHS CSP. In autumn 2011, NHS Supply Chain will publish a framework agreement on the purchasing of the five HPV testing kits that are currently available. While services will not be able to implement HPV testing as triage until the framework agreement is published, they will be able to put all necessary plans in place so that, as soon as the agreement becomes available, they will be able to make decisions and place orders without delay.It is not possible to state the exact number of tests that will take place in 2011-12 and 2012-13. As a guide, around 200,000 women a year have mild or borderline screening test results. There are currently around 500,000 women on annual 10-year follow-up following previous treatment, but this is expected to reduce to around 100,000 a year once these women have been subject to a test of cure in 2012-13.Funding for implementation has been made available for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and will be managed by NHS CSP. We expect all women in England to be benefiting from HPV triage and test of cure from 2013-14, when we also expect savings of up to £16 million per year to be made from this new policy, as set out in the impact assessment we published alongside the new cancer strategy.Subject to the consultation on 'Healthy Lives, Healthy People', Public Health England (PHE) will have responsibility for national elements of the cancer screening programmes. PHE will fund the NHS Commissioning Board annually to commission local elements of screening programmes on behalf of PHE.The results of the HPV sentinel site implementation project will be published in due course, once associated papers have appeared in peer reviewed journals.Regarding the future of cervical screening, the independent Advisory Committee on Cervical Screening (ACCS) is advising on the introduction of HPV Testing as Primary Screening (HPVTaPS). Working groups have been established to take forward work in three areas:"work force requirements and supporting transition;""protocols and algorithms for testing; and""demonstrating the economies and benefits to women of HPVTaPS."The working groups are due to report to the ACCS at its meeting on 24 November 2011, where the piloting of HPVTaPS will be considered.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

64242; 531 c98-100W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Cervical cancer Screening

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk