06 April 2018
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Senator Andrew Green, has announced a new approach to the provision of cervical screening services following a review by the department.
The current fee of £16 for cervical screening at Le Bas Centre will be abolished from 1 June. By the end of 2018, the intention is to negotiate a contract with GPs which would allow women to receive a free smear test either at their GP practice or at Le Bas Centre.
Senator Green said: "I have asked my department to put in place measures that by the end of the year, and subject to contract negotiation, should provide free screening in GP practices. While these details are being worked out, I want to make sure that no woman is put off being screened by their ability to pay and, therefore, from 1 June women will be able to access their three-yearly or five-yearly screening test free of charge at Le Bas Centre.
"I welcome the fact that this initiative means that cervical screening will now be free of charge to the individual, just like the other two cancer screening programmes in Jersey – breast cancer screening for women and bowel cancer screening for men and women."
Dr Nigel Minihane, Chair of the Primary Care Body, said: "I welcome this approach, which should mean that more women present for cervical screening. In the future, advances in technology and self-testing should make earlier detection easier, and until we are at that point these moves are a positive step."
Screening recommendations
In line with the UK National Screening Committee recommendations, the cervical screening programme in Jersey is not performed in younger women as screening under the age of 25 can do more harm than good.
Screening is available for women from the age of 25 to 64 at the following intervals:
| Women aged 25 to 49 | every three years |
| Women aged 50 to 64 | every five years |
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