By Sophie Borland Health Editor For The Daily Mail
Published: 22:22 GMT, 21 January 2019 | Updated: 22:25 GMT, 21 January 2019
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Women will be told not to be afraid of having their smear test as part of a major NHS awareness campaign.
It follows widespread alarm at figures showing uptake of the cervical screening programme is at an all-time low.
The trend has been blamed on embarrassment, as well as a lack of GP appointments.
Yesterday’s Daily Mail highlighted research by a charity showing 80 per cent of women had delayed the tests because they felt body conscious. Experts warn that millions are putting their lives at risk because they are too embarrassed to be tested for cervical cancer.
The new campaign, overseen by Public Health England, begins in six weeks’ time. It will involve adverts on TV and social media explaining the importance of smear tests.
Screening has been credited with saving an estimated 5,000 lives in the UK each year by detecting abnormal cells before they turn cancerous.
The Public Health England campaign will launch in March. It comes after research revealed women might be putting their health at risk by not having the test
The campaign will also highlight risk factors for cervical cancer, including infection with
