Later today in the Senedd – 19th January 2022 – Ministers will debate the issue of cervical screening tests following concerns about proposed changes.
Public Health Wales has apologised for the handling of their announcement and the worry it caused. They have also clarified and cleared up any misunderstandings which may have arisen, and responded to the points of concern.
There has been a great deal of coverage of this, but here is a useful article from the BBC website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59878409
The Welsh Government Minister also issued a statement on this: https://gov.wales/written-statement-change-cervical…
I and other Members of the Senedd, in response to concerns raised by constituents, approached the leading, authoritative and trusted research and cervical cancer support organisations to seek their advice too. The views of these organisations have been consistent and clear, expressing support for the changes, and pointing out that this would mean that Wales would be brought in line with the recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee which are already in place elsewhere in the UK. Indeed, Scotland has already introduced these changes, and England is likely to follow suit soon too.
I hope to contribute to the debate and seek assurances that there will be a redoubled effort to communicate and explain the scientific and clinical rational behind the changes, and that that this does not increase risk. The changes are designed to improve the screening and related processes, not to impair those processes.
Here’s a link to Cancer Research UK which can explain the changes https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/…/cervical-screening…/
I am also pleased to have signed this statement of opinion in support of #CervicalCancerPreventionWeek to reinforce the value of attending cervical screening https://record.senedd.wales/StatementOfOpinion/248