The MS for Brecon and Radnorshire has joined the call for Public Health Wales to reverse its decision to move routine cervical cancer screenings from three to five years for women in Wales.

The announcement by the Welsh Government’s health body has been met with widespread backlash, including a Change.Org petition which, at the time of writing, has received 488,800 signatures with more being added every second.

Th petition, started on Tuesday, January 5 by a woman called Rachel Pugh, is calling on PHW to reduce the interval between cervical screenings back to three years from five for people aged 25-49 where Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has not been found.

More commonly known as the smear test, cervical screenings look to detect the virus which can lead to cervical cancer - PHW has said that those diagnosed with high risk HPV would be followed up “more regularly” than before.

MS James Evans said: “I am extremely concerned about the delay of routine services here in Wales.

“Cervical cancer is an extremely dangerous illness and the decision by Public Health Wales to change the routine screening time from every three years to every five years is disgraceful and will cost lives.

“I believe this decision must be overruled by the Welsh Government and immediately reversed.

“The NHS in Wales has received record funding and services should be improving, instead we see services being cut, GP’s refusing to do face to face appointments and A&E departments struggling to cope.

“The Welsh Government must get a grip on this dire situation, and I join the over 150,000 people in Wales who have signed the petition to reverse the decision to delay cervical screenings.”

Public Health Wales has since apologised for any concern caused and as it had not “done enough to explain these changes”.

However PHW has looked to clarify that the extension to five years between tests is only for women where HPV is not found.

Dr Sharon Hillier PhD FFPH, Director of Screening Division for Public Health Wales, said: “Public Health Wales is aware of concerns about changes to cervical screening in Wales.  We take these concerns very seriously, and we are sorry we haven’t done enough to explain these changes.  

“These changes are safe.  They are based on recommendations from the UK National Screening Committee, which have already been implemented in Scotland.  Following these changes, people with high-risk HPV will be followed up more closely and more regularly than with the previous method of testing, while women with no HPV will not have to attend cervical screening for five years. 

“We would not consider, implement or advocate for any changes to screening that would cause harm to women and people with a cervix in Wales.  Attending your smear test when invited is the best way to protect yourself.”

Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones took to Facebook yesterday to voice her feelings on the period between tests.

Ms Jones, who pointed out that Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is coming up from January 17 to 23, said the week is something she has always supported due to her own experience.

Ms Jones said: “Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is something I have always supported partly due to my own personal experience being treated for abnormal/pre cancerous cells.

“I was therefore incredibly worried to see the proposed change to attend routine testing in Wales will be moved from three year to five years.

Ms Jones said she can understand why people are scared and advised anybody with concerns to look at Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is a charity which looks to improve the lives of the affected by the condition.

The charity is also working towards a future where cervical cancer “is a thing of the past”.

Ms Jones said: “I will wait to hear the full explanation from Public Health Wales over their reasoning but I can fully understand why so many are frightened by this announcement. I’ve always found Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust informative for anyone with immediate concerns so please give their Facebook page a visit.”

According to Cancer Research UK, there were on average 3,197 each year from 2016 to 2018.

Of thee cases, there were 854 deaths. The survival rate of cervical cancer for ten or more years according to figures in England from 2013 to 2017 was 51%.

The UK-wide cancer charity also said that 99.8% of cases in the UK were preventable in 2015.

More information about the changes to screening services in Wales is available on the Public Health Wales website at www.phw.nhs.wales/CSWChanges

Visit Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust website by clicking here or their Facebook page by clicking here. Alternatively, call their helpline on 0808 802 8000.