Cervical screening supporting information
Updated 10 October 2024
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-programme-standards/cervical-screening-supporting-information
Introduction
These revised screening standards for the NHS cervical screening programme (CSP) replace previous versions.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommends all eligible women in England aged 25 to 64 are invited to take part in cervical screening. Women aged 25 to 49 years are invited every 3 years and women aged 50 to 64 are invited every 5 years.
NHS CSP has responsibility for implementing this policy. It aims to reduce the number of women who develop cervical cancer and the number of women who die from the condition. The programme service specification (No. 25) is available for providers as part of the public health functions exercised by NHS England (NHSE).
We aim to make sure there is equal access to uniform and quality assured screening across England and that participants are provided with high quality information so they can make an informed choice about cervical screening.
Screening guidance documents on GOV.UK may link to a central glossary of terms, ‘NHS population screening explained’ and NHS UK for definition of terms. To see the meaning of an acronym, hover over it with your cursor to see the full definition.
Summary of changes from previous version of standards
Previous NHS CSP measurable standards were documented in the programme guidance. Programme guidance continues to be provided and will cover the screening standards as featured in the section 7a service specification.
CSP-S01: coverage under 50 years
This standard was amended to clearly define the resident eligible population and the defined age groups of 25 to 49 years with adequate screening in the previous 3.5 years.
CSP-S02: coverage 50 years and above
This standard was amended to clearly define the resident eligible population and the defined age groups of 50 to 64 years with adequate screening in the previous 5.5 years.
CSP-S08: test: colposcopy - timely biopsy result letter sent
Reported by changed from reporting by colposcopy service to reporting by colposcopy clinic.
CSP-S09: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - 12 month follow-up after treatment
Reported by changed from reporting by colposcopy service to reporting by colposcopy clinic.
CSP-S10: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - inadequate cytology
Reported changed from reporting by colposcopy service to reporting by colposcopy clinic.
CSP-S11: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - 6 week appointment
Reported by changed from reporting by colposcopy service to reporting by colposcopy clinic.
CSP-S12: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - high grade referral 2 week appointment
Reported by changed from reporting by colposcopy service to reporting by colposcopy clinic.
Pathway themes
NHS CSP screening standards look at 3 themes to assess the pathway and 2 key performance indicators (KPIs) are derived from standards CSP-S01 and CSP-S02.
Theme: coverage
Related standards are:
CSP-S01: coverage under 50 years
CSP-S02: coverage 50 years and above
Theme: test
Related standards are:
CSP-S03: test: timely receipt of result letter
CSP-S04: test: minimise false negative reporting
CSP-S05: test: inadequate cytology
CSP-S06: test: cytological positive predictive value (PPV)
CSP-S07: test: cytological abnormal predictive value (APV)
CSP-S08: test: colposcopy - timely biopsy result letter sent
Theme: intervention or treatment
Related standards are:
CSP-S09: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - 12 month follow-up after treatment
CSP-S10: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - inadequate cytology
CSP-S11: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - 6 week appointment
CSP-S12: intervention or treatment: colposcopy - high grade referral 2 week appointment
Resources to support providers and commissioners
Additional CSP operational guidance is included in the:
Reporting and publishing standards
We publish annual standards and quarterly KPI data.