Health and wellbeing
Walsall residents encouraged to attend cervical screening when invited
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Walsall Council Public Health is encouraging women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 to check if they are due to attend their cervical screening appointment this Cervical Screening Awareness Week (15–21 June 2026).
Cervical screening saves lives by detecting changes early, before cancer can develop. Cervical screening is a test for human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can sometimes cause cancer. It is one of the most preventable cancers and attending screening when invited is the best way to protect health. Around 3,300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year, but most cases can be prevented through regular screening. If HPV is not found, another screening may not be needed for five years.
Residents are also being encouraged to download the NHS App and turn on notifications, so they can quickly and easily check when they are due a cervical screening test and to avoid missing out on screening invitations. If due, residents can use the NHS App to book a screening appointment at their GP practice.
Residents who do not have access to the NHS App will still receive screening invitations via text messages or letters. They will need to contact their GP practice in the usual way to book a screening appointment.
The majority of cervical screening is done by a female nurse or doctor. This can be requested when booking, in order to support people feel more comfortable.
While screening helps prevent cancer, it is also important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. These include unusual vaginal bleeding, changes to discharge, pain during sex or pain in the lower back, pelvis or lower tummy. Anyone experiencing symptoms that are unusual, persistent or worsening should speak to a GP or healthcare professional.
The HPV vaccination significantly reduces the risk of cervical cancer by protecting against the types of HPV that cause most cases. The HPV vaccination programme is offered to all children in Walsall aged 12 to 13 as part of the national immunisation schedule. Parents and carers are encouraged to ensure their children receive the vaccine. Although the risks are reduced with vaccinations, it is still important that residents still go for regular screening.
If the vaccine was missed at a younger age, it is still available free of charge on the NHS for eligible people, including young adults up to their 25th birthday.
Residents can access support and information locally during Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s cancer outreach team will be running two cervical screening and cervical health sessions on Tuesday 16 June at 9.30am at Dudley Fields (Sneyd Hall Road, WS3 2NN), and Thursday 18 June at 10.30am at The Local Hub in Mossley, Bloxwich (WS3 2NA).
“ Cervical screening is one of the most effective ways to detect early changes and prevent cancer, and I encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward when invited.
This week, we are also encouraging people to download the NHS App and switch on notifications. Invitations are increasingly sent this way, while letter and text invitations also remain in place.
Even if you have had the HPV vaccine, it is still important to attend regular cervical screening appointments. The vaccine protects against many types of HPV that can cause cancer, but it does not protect against them all.
If you are unsure whether you are due for screening, you can check with your GP. It is never too late to get screened. You can take a friend or family member with you to your appointment and request a female doctor or nurse to carry out the test. You can also speak to your GP or nurse if you have any questions to help you feel comfortable and in control. You can stop the test at any time.
Cervical screening is the best way of finding out if you are at risk of cervical cancer and I encourage everyone to take up their offer of an appointment.
You should also look out for any signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. If you notice anything that does not feel normal, or if symptoms change or worsen, please contact your GP. “
To find out more about cervical screening, visit the NHS website. You can also find out more about cervical cancer on the NHS website.
For help and support with cancer, visit the Macmillan website or call 0808 808 00 00. You can also get information and support from Cancer Research UK.
Eligibility on the HPV vaccine
If you missed getting vaccinated when you were 12 or 13, the HPV vaccine is available for free on the NHS for:
- all girls aged 24 and under up until their 25th birthday
- boys born after 1 September 2006 up until their 25th birthday
Contact your school nurse, school vaccination team or GP surgery if you or your child were eligible for the HPV vaccine but did not get vaccinated.
Even if you have had an HPV vaccination, cervical screening is essential. The vaccine prevents up to 90% of cervical cancers, but it does not protect against all high-risk strains of the virus.
