A mobile cervical screening service operating across northern England is addressing declining participation in cancer prevention efforts. The buses, funded by NHS England North West, began operations in 2024 and have since expanded to serve Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, South Cumbria, and are scheduled to begin operating in Greater Manchester from October.
Current screening rates in England have fallen significantly, with 2014 showing a rate of 77% compared to 69% more recently. The World Health Organization identifies cervical cancer as the fourth most common cancer among women globally. NHS data indicates that over 4 million women in England are not up to date with cervical screening, and this number continues to rise. According to research from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, women from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled women, LGBTQ+ individuals with a cervix, and those in economically deprived areas are less likely to participate in screening.
The mobile clinics have proven popular, with two buses now operating 10 cervical screening sessions weekly. Staff note that the service removes common barriers including appointment scheduling difficulties, travel challenges, and time constraints. A single morning session screened 18 women, including five who had never previously received cervical screening and eight who were overdue. In total, the buses have screened more than 2,700 women across the north-west region.
To further improve participation, NHS England will introduce self-sampling kits later this year, allowing women to collect samples at home and return them by mail. Health experts indicate this approach can increase screening rates without reducing the effectiveness of results. Additionally, HPV vaccination uptake remains a concern, currently standing at 75.5% for girls and 70% for boys in England, both significantly below the World Health Organization’s 90% target. Research suggests that reaching the 90% vaccination target could prevent 89% of all premature deaths due to cervical cancer in the UK.
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