Sioned Williams MS urges Welsh Government to take urgent action to “protect women from this preventable cancer”
Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for equalities, has today called for the roll out of HPV home screening kits in Wales.
This follows an announcement from the UK Government’s Health and Social Care secretary that these kits will be offered to people who have missed cervical screening appointments in England.
Last year, a successful pilot in Hywel Dda Health Board showed that HPV self-sampling can significantly improve uptake, especially among those who don’t or can’t attend in-clinic appointments.
Yet, despite repeated calls from Plaid Cymru and cancer charities to roll out HPV self-screening kits, no plans have yet been announced by the Welsh Government.
Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on equalities, and Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said:
“Cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers among women under 35 in Wales and HPV is responsible for most of these incidences. Uptake of traditional smear tests is declining, but we know from the pilot that over half prefer home screening to the traditional smear test. It’s a no brainer to do all we can to prevent cervical cancer.
“We had the opportunity to lead on this in Wales, and now we’re lagging behind. The Welsh Government must set out what action it’s taking to introduce HPV self-sampling kits and to reassure us that they are doing all they can to protect women and people with a cervix from this preventable cancer.”