This dataset presents the percentage of eligible women aged 25 to 49 who have had an adequate cervical screening test recorded within the previous 42 months (3.5 years). Cervical screening — commonly known as a smear test — helps detect abnormal cell changes in the cervix before they have the chance to develop into cancer. Monitoring coverage at a local and practice level is essential for identifying where uptake is lower than expected and where outreach and engagement efforts can make the greatest difference to women's health outcomes.
Rationale
Cervical cancer is largely preventable through regular screening, and the NHS Cervical Screening Programme plays a critical role in reducing both incidence and mortality. Women aged 25 to 49 are invited for screening every three years, making the 42-month (3.5-year) window the appropriate measure of up-to-date coverage for this age group. Increasing cervical screening uptake is a public health priority, particularly in areas with high deprivation, diverse communities, or where historic barriers to access — including health literacy, cultural factors, or previous negative experiences — may be reducing participation.
Numerator
The numerator is the number of eligible women aged 25 to 49, registered at the practice on the last day of the review period, who had an adequate cervical screening test recorded in the previous 42 months, sourced from the NHS England Cervical Screening Programme.
Denominator
The denominator is the total number of eligible women aged 25 to 49 registered at the practice on the last day of the review period, also sourced from the NHS England Cervical Screening Programme.
Caveats
Users should exercise caution when interpreting data at practice level. For some practices, this indicator may be based on a small number of patients, meaning that random variation can produce apparently large changes over time or apparently significant differences when compared to other areas. Small-number volatility should always be considered before drawing conclusions from practice-level figures, and aggregated or trend data should be used where possible to provide a more stable picture.
External References
Data is sourced from the NHS England Cervical Screening Programme (CSP). The indicator is also available through the OHID Fingertips platform, published by the Department of Health and Social Care:
Click here to explore more from the Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Partnerships Outcome Framework.