To ask the Minister of Health whether he will consider additional screening measures to improve early detection of non-HPV related gynaecological cancers.

All screening programmes in Northern Ireland are based on the advice and recommendations of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), an independent scientific advisory committee, that advises the four UK Health Departments on all screening matters; and on the advice from the Northern Ireland Screening Committee (NISC).

Almost all cervical cancers are linked with persistent infection with a high-risk HPV and since December 2023, in line with the current UK NSC advice, which was endorsed by the NISC, the Northern Ireland Cervical Screening Programme has implemented primary HPV testing. This is considered to be a more accurate and effective test at detecting those at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. The same process is in place in the rest of the UK and Ireland.

I will consider any future recommendations from the UKNSC in relation to additional screening measures to improve early detection of non-HPV related gynaecological cancers.