CERVICAL screenings can save your life, but many women across East Berkshire have failed to attend their appointments due to Covid-19 fears.

The latest figures from Public Health England show that 69.7 per cent of women in East Berkshire booked their cervical screening in 2020, previously known as a smear test.

Patients under East Berkshire CCG includes Bracknell Forest, Ascot, Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead.

The uptake of cervical smear testing amongst women in east of Berkshire, aged 25-49, stands at 69.7 per cent.

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This is higher than the national average of 67.10 per cent, according to the figures.

Specifically, in Bracknell, the uptake stands at 72.1 per cent according to the latest figures 2020-21. 

But there are still women who are not attending their cervical screening appointments.

East Berkshire CCG said they are getting in touch with women age between 25-49 who have missed their smear tests during Covid-19. 

They have also commissioned a service across Slough, The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Bracknell, to work with GPs in contacting women who didn't attend their cervical screening last year.

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Dr Anant Sachdev, local Cancer Clinical Lead, said: “I would like to reassure residents that practices are taking all measures to reduce risks when seeing patients face-to-face.

"Those invited for the test are therefore encouraged to attend as screening can really saves lives.

“I cannot emphasis enough the importance of cervical screening as it is a way of preventing cancer by finding and treating abnormal cell changes in the neck of the womb (cervix). Changes left untreated could lead to cancer so it’s a great preventative measure.”