One in three across UK are overdue for cervical cancer screening
A third of people across the UK are overdue their cervical cancer screening, while in parts of England some are at greater risk of the disease than others due to a low uptake for the preventive vaccine, experts have warned.Since the coronavirus pandemic, cervical screening attendance rates for women and other people with cervixes have been steadily declining, from 72.2% in 2020 to 68.4% in 2024, NHS England data shows.A YouGov survey of 3,000 people across the UK eligible for cervical cancer screening, commissioned by Cancer Research UK, is in line with these findings, with 30% of respondents being overdue their screening.
It also highlighted the main barriers people cited, with 42% of respondents finding cervical screening painful previously, 40% not wanting a man to carry out the screening test, and just under one in five (19%) of respondents saying they were too embarrassed to go for a screening,Of those who did not attend their screening, 16% of respondents said it was because they did not have any symptoms – highlighting the misinformation still prevalent regarding cervical screening, which is for people without symptoms,Separate figures from the UK Heath Security Agency (UKHSA) have found that uptake of the HPV vaccine greatly varies by region, with girls in London by year 10 having the lowest uptake (64,9%) and girls in the south-east the highest (82,7%).
Among boys of the same age, it was also lowest in London (58,9%) and highest in the south-east (77,3%),HPV refers to a group of viruses that can be transmitted through sexual contact and cause no symptoms,About 13 high-risk types of HPV are known to cause 99.
7% of cervical cancers.Each year, about 3,200 women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 850 die from it.It is the 14th most common cancer affecting women in Britain, with women aged 30 to 34 most likely to receive a diagnosis.Last year, NHS England pledged to wipe out cervical cancer by 2040.Globally, it is the fourth most common cancer in women, with about 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths every year, according to the World Health Organization.
The disease develops when abnormal cells appear in the lining of the cervix and grow, eventually coming together as a tumour,If the cells are not caught early, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body,In June, NHS England said that women aged between 25 and 49 who test negative for HPV, meaning they are at very low risk of cervical cancer over the next 10 years, will safely be invited at five-year intervals instead of three,Fiona Osgun, Cancer Research UK’s head of health information, said the declining rates were due to a combination of factors,Sign up to First EditionOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersafter newsletter promotion“We know that people have specific barriers to accessing screening; some of those are practical such as not being able to get an appointment at a time that works for them, but some are more specific to the test itself, such as finding the screening painful or being worried about who’s going to be carrying out the test,” Osgun said.
“I think we have just seen a slow decline, which unfortunately can happen even with successful screening programmes.“We need to continue to chip away at those misunderstandings and misconceptions some people have regarding cervical screening.”Osgun added that there were various measures people could ask for to make their cervical screening test more comfortable, such as asking for a double appointment or a different-sized speculum.Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care and community services at NHS England, said: “The NHS HPV vaccination programme has already helped save thousands of lives and we need to go further to boost uptake of HPV vaccines and cervical screening to help eliminate cervical cancer in England by 2040.”
Paris airshow in subdued mood after deadly Air India crash
Every second summer more than 100,000 aviation industry professionals gather in Paris for an airshow – a flying display crossed with a vast conference. The mood at the latest gathering this week was more subdued than usual, after the deadly crash a week ago of a London-bound Air India flight in Ahmedabad.Investigators have recovered the black box from the plane to try to work out the cause of the disaster. The aircraft maker Boeing, and GE Aerospace, which made the 787 Dreamliner’s engines, both cancelled many of their media-facing events out of respect for the families of the 241 passengers and crew who died, as well as at least 30 more people on the ground who were killed.At an event that presents a mix of civil and military aircraft and weaponry, the war between Israel and Iran further overshadowed proceedings
UK consumer confidence up but fragile amid tariff and Middle East concerns
Confidence among UK consumers has improved but remains fragile in the face of expected petrol price rises amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to a leading index.The latest snapshot from the data company GfK says sentiment improved by two points in June but remained in negative territory at -18, well below the -12 of a year ago. A reading above zero indicates optimism; below indicates pessimism.The last time the headline index, which is closely watched by the government and the Bank of England, was positive was in January 2016, when it was at 4. It has had double-digit negative readings since September 2021 when Britain was in the grip of Covid-19
UK manufacturing set for a funding boost to reduce energy costs
UK manufacturing is expected to receive support to ease energy costs and boost skills, the Guardian understands, as part of a long-awaited industrial strategy due to be unveiled next week.Energy-intensive industries have long complained that they pay too much for electricity compared with competitors in the EU, while the wider industrial sector has struggled to recruit skilled staff.As Nigel Farage’s Reform party targets support in Britain’s industrial heartlands, ministers are poised to pour funds into boosting the manufacturing workforce with proposals similar to a £600m package for the construction sector announced earlier this year, which underpins plans to build 1.5m homes.Ministers have drawn up plans to take aim at energy costs through two policies, one targeted at businesses that use the most electricity – such as steel and aluminium – and another designed to support manufacturing more broadly
Thames Water renationalisation plans being stepped up, says minister
The environment secretary, Steve Reed, has said the government is stepping up preparations for temporary nationalisation of Thames Water, indicating it will reject pleas from the company’s creditors for leniency from fines and penalties.Thames Water’s largest creditors control the utility and have made a bid to cut some of its debts and provide £5.3bn in new funding to try to turn it around.However, the creditors have said their plan needs considerable leniency from the water regulators Ofwat and the Environment Agency over fines for environmental failings.The Guardian this month revealed that the creditors had asked for immunity from prosecution for serious environmental crimes in return for taking on the company
Ministers set out plans to spend £725bn on UK infrastructure over 10 years
Ministers have pledged to spend £9bn a year on fixing crumbling schools, hospitals, courts and prisons over the next decade as part of the government’s infrastructure strategy.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, set out plans on Thursday to spend a minimum of £725bn over 10 years to boost UK-wide infrastructure and achieve a “national renewal”.Jones announced that £6bn a year would go to repairing hospitals in England, £3bn to fixing and upgrading schools and colleges in England and £600m to courts and prisons in England and Wales.The money will fund building improvements including removing crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) in hospitals and strengthening safety and security in prisons.Jones told MPs: “Done properly it will result in tangible improvements to the fabric of our country, our local roads and high streets renewed so communities are even better places to live
Bank of England warns of ‘elevated’ global uncertainty after leaving interest rates on hold – as it happened
Newsflash: The Bank of England has left UK interest rates on hold at 4.25%.The decision, which matches City expectations, comes as the Bank weighs up the risks to the UK economy from US trade wars and the conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed oil prices higher in the last week.But it’s a split decision – with six of the nine policymaker’s voting to hold, and three voting for a cut.Details and reaction to follow
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