New cervical screening sessions in pilot scheme

The appointments will take place across three sexual health service clinics (generic image)

A new pilot programme has been launched in Wolverhampton to boost cervical screening rates.

Embrace, the city's sexual health service, is offering new sessions to encourage people, particularly those aged 25 to 34 who are overdue for their cervical screening, to attend their test.

The screenings will take place across three Embrace clinics and provide an alternative to booking an appointment through a GP.

As part of the provision, people would also be offered a free sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, to help ensure their sexual health needs were up to date, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said.

Cervical screenings, previously known as smear tests, check the health of the cervix.

The tests were being offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64, the trust said.

During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells is taken from the cervix.

The sample is then tested for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to cervical cells. These are known as high-risk types of HPV.

The three Embrace clinics are on Fowler Centre, West Park Hospital and Bilston Health Centre.

Consultant/clinical director in sexual health and HIV Dr Prita Banerjee said "we have to recognise that it can be difficult to find the time, outside of work and family commitments, to book an appointment".

Dr Banerjee added the programme hoped to make cervical screening as accessible as possible "by offering flexible daytime and evening appointments".