Thousands of women in Scotland to be invited for cervical screening after they were incorrectly excluded
Thousands of women in Scotland are to be invited for smear tests after they were incorrectly taken off the system.
About 13,000 women were removed from Scotland’s cervical screening programme after undergoing hysterectomies.
However, some were recorded as having had the procedure where there was only a sub-total or partial hysterectomy, meaning cervical screening was still needed.
The issue came to light in 2021 when several women had died from cervical cancer after being wrongly excluded from the screening programme, prompting fears that further incorrect exclusions may have been made.
An audit followed and all affected women were invited for follow-up examination.
Now, a wider audit of 150,000 women who have had subtotal hysterectomies has been launched, as reported by the BBC.
According to a letter to health boards and GP practices, the Scottish government said it expected about 13,000 patients to require further medical investigation.
Women identified as at risk will be invited for check-ups over the next 12 months.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We apologise for any anxiety caused by the audit being undertaken in the cervical screening programme.
“The risk to those who have been excluded is low and it is very much a precautionary step as the overwhelming majority of exclusions will be correct.
“Everyone who has been affected will be contacted by the screening programme.”
They added: “The risk to those who have been excluded is low and it is very much a precautionary step as the overwhelming majority of exclusions will be correct.
“In partnership with NHS Scotland, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has made its national helpline available to anyone with concerns.
“You can get more information, advice and support by contacting the free helpline on 0808 802 8000.”
The cervical screening test checks cells from the cervix for human papilloma virus (HPV), responsible for 99 per cent of all cervical cancers.
It has proven to be effective in reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, preventing eight out of 10 cervical cancers from developing.
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