To ask the Minister of Health to detail any actions his Department is taking to improve public confidence in cervical cancer screening services.

Over 99% of cervical cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). Primary HPV testing, with cervical cytology as a second line test for those women who test positive for HPV, was fully implemented into the NI Cervical Screening programme from 11 December 2023. Primary HPV testing is an automated test which identifies the presence of HPV and was recommended by the UK National Screening Committee because it is a more accurate test, and will save more lives, than cervical cytology alone.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is monitoring awareness, confidence and barriers to participation in cervical screening and will continue to use this information to inform future promotional activities. Coverage data (used a measurement of participation in the Cervical Screening Programme) is now available for 2023/24 and shows an increase in age appropriate coverage across all Trusts in 2023/24, compared to 2022/23.

My Department’s Cervical Screening Oversight and Assurance Group, continues to receive and seek assurances on the overall performance of the cervical screening programme; to include maintaining and building on public confidence in the programme.