By Sophie Borland for the Daily Mail
Published: 23:40 GMT, 3 February 2019 | Updated: 00:50 GMT, 4 February 2019
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Three-quarters of women at some GP surgeries have missed vital checks for cervical cancer, figures reveal.
At one north-west London practice, just 13.8 per cent of patients aged 25 to 49 have been tested in the past three years.
And surgeries in Newcastle, Bournemouth and across central, south and west London have uptake rates of about 25 per cent.
At one north-west London practice, just 13.8 per cent of patients aged 25 to 49 have been tested in the past three years (file photo)
Nationally, just 71 per cent of patients have had the latest test they were due for, down from 82 per cent in 1997.
The decline has been blamed on women being embarrassed and scared about the procedure as well as a lack of available appointments.
There are also concerns funding cuts have led to fewer reminder letters.
Health officials are so worried about the fall they are launching a cervical cancer awareness campaign in March. The NHS screening programme saves an estimated 5,000 lives a year.
Screening is offered every three years to women aged 25 to 49 and then every five years up to age 65.
But uptake is particularly low in the first group and just 69 per cent have had their latest test. At 223 GP surgeries
