Cervical Screening Consultation 2025

Eligibility and appointment invitation

• 94% of respondents report that they have been eligible for a cervical screening in the last 3-5 years, 6% are unsure
• 92% have ever been invited to a cervical screening, most commonly through a letter (70%) followed by a SMS/text (25%)

Attending appointments

• Around three quarters of respondents report attending a cervical screening appointment in the last three years (74%), whilst 15% have not, and 11% are unsure
• Most had their most recent screening at their GP clinic (88%) or another GP practice (7%)
• Three quarters of those always attend their appointment when invited (74%) and just over half wanted to check that everything is ok (53%)
• Appointments being easy to book (online or over the phone) and previous positive experiences are important factors encouraging people to attend

Experience of cervical screening

• Nearly two thirds of respondents report that nothing made it difficult to book or attend their most recent appointment. Anxiety/ worry about attending and inconvenient appointment times are the biggest barriers to booking or attending
• Respondents rate their experience of their most recent cervical screening highly; 91% rate it as ‘good’ or ‘very good
• Practitioners play a key role in screening experiences. Those who rate their experience positively are most likely to mention a friendly, reassuring, and empathetic practitioner, whilst those who rated their experience as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ frequently mention rude, unhelpful, or inappropriate practitioners, as well as having a painful or uncomfortable experience

Non-attendance

• Most commonly, respondents have not attended a cervical screening appointment in the last three years as they have not been invited during this time
• Not seeing reminders, feeling anxious or worried, having a previous bad experience and having difficulty booking are other key reasons for non-attendance
• In terms of things to encourage people to attend, booking processes could be improved, for example having better appointment times/ availability, making it easier to book or request an appointment, sending reminders, or minimising cancellations. Experiences could be improved through different screening styles, a more sensitive approach, and having knowledgeable and experienced staff

Other services

• Most commonly, respondents would like breast checking included in their cervical screening appointment (46%), followed by menopause/ peri-menopausal advice and menstrual health (19%)

Objectives

The main aims of the research are:

• To map the current pathways and provision of cervical screening in Portsmouth
• To identify best practices to facilitate equitable access of cervical screening
• To identify issues with pathway and gaps in the provision of cervical screening

A quantitative online survey was launched from Wednesday 4 June until Sunday 20 July 2025.

The survey was promoted via social media, e-bulletins, and through texts sent from GP practices. The vast majority of responses came from the text messages.

In total the survey received 6,264 responses from people eligible for a cervical screening, registered with a GP in Portsmouth. Taking a “total population” of 62,792 (the latest 2021 census data from the Office for National Statistics for females aged 25-74 in Portsmouth) this volume of responses ensures a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of 1%, well within acceptable parameters.