During Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month in September, we launched a campaign across the UK, urging Governments to equip women with the information they need on ovarian cancer by making clear cervical screening will not detect ovarian cancer and signpost to key symptoms.
Research previously undertaken by Target Ovarian Cancer revealed a worrying number of women across the UK wrongly believe that cervical screening will detect ovarian cancer:
- 46 per cent of women in Northern Ireland
- 45 per cent of women in Scotland
- 42 per cent of women in Wales
- 40 per cent of women in England
Since then, we've been putting our call for cervical screening information to be updated at the forefront of our campaigning with policymakers and elected representatives.
We were delighted that in July of this year the information was officially updated in England. This was a brilliant outcome after years campaigning and we wanted to see this change reflected across the UK.
We decided to launch a targeted campaign asking elected representatives to join our call by signing a joint letter to the Ministers of Health in each devolved nation. Target Ovarian Cancer campaigners sent more than 2,000 emails to their elected representatives, urging them to sign the letters.
Read below to see how we got on in each Nation!
Scotland
With the help of our passionate campaigners, we received support from across all political parties. We were delighted to have Monica Lennon MSP and Finlay Carson MSP as our lead signatories and in total 25 MSPs signed our joint letter to the Minister for Public Health & Women’s Health.
On 13 November, the Policy and Campaigns team were joined at the Scottish Parliament by Mary and Christine - two of our wonderful campaigners, to mark the hand-in of the letter. We were delighted that more than 30 MSPs turned out to show their support.
We understand that cervical screening information in Scotland is currently being reviewed, however, we await an official response from the Scottish Government. We hope to have an update on this soon, so watch this space!
Wales
We were very pleased that our letter was signed by 13 Members of the Senedd. The lead signatories were Target Ovarian Cancer Champions Mark Isherwood MS and Sioned William MS.
Together, we urged the Welsh government to implement in full a commitment they'd made back in 2023 to update cervical screening information.
Following our campaign, we were pleased to hear the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care, Jeremy Miles MS, confirm that Public Health Wales have now updated cervical screening information to make clear it will not detect gynaecological cancers.
This update is very welcome; however, it's currently only available when receiving the printed version of the information leaflet. We want to ensure this information is readily available across all platforms and lists each of the gynaecological cancers, which the current update did not take the opportunity to do.
We'll continue to call on the Welsh Government to make the most of every opportunity and ensure women across Wales are equipped with this vital information.
Northern Ireland
On 25 November the Policy and Campaigns team were on the road again, and this time travelled to Stormont to mark the hand in of our letter with a photo call and to meet the Minister for Health.
In Northern Ireland, the letter was signed by more than a quarter of all Members of the Legislative Assembly - 26 in total. What's more, four of them raised our campaign on the floor of the Assembly and it was discussed extensively on social media.
Our team were joined by brilliant campaigners Christine and Pauline. Several MLAs turned out to show their support and discuss ovarian cancer with us.
In the afternoon, Connie Egan MLA - the letter's lead signatory joined us at a very productive meeting with the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt MLA. During the meeting, Pauline and Christine powerfully drew on their own experience of ovarian cancer to explain why making this change to cervical screening information is so important.
During our meeting the Minister shared that as a result of our campaign cervical screening information has now been updated on the NI direct website, and they're considering printing inserts for the current public health leaflets relating to cervical screening information to make clear cervical screening will not detect ovarian or any other gynaecological cancer.
This is fantastic outcome and one that would not have been possible without the support of our campaigners.
I was delighted to work with Target Ovarian Cancer and their brilliant campaigners on this important campaign. It is vital that we address the misconceptions around ovarian cancer and ensure women in Northern Ireland are equipped with the information they need. I welcome the commitment made by the Health Minister and I am pleased he recognised the importance of this update. By working together, we can help ensure more women feel empowered in their health and recognise the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
This update is very welcome, and we'll be following up with the Minister to seek clarification on the timeline for this change to also be made in printed materials and on the Public Health Agency Website.
England
Earlier in the year we were pleased to see cervical information updated to make clear it will not detect ovarian or any other gynaecological cancer.
After a decade of calling for this change, we were delighted to see the information updated but we wanted to go further to ensure women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in England are equipped with the information they need.
We asked Members of Parliament to sign our joint letter to the Minister for Public Health, Ashley Dalton MP, urging the Government to consider including a link in cervical screening information to symptoms of other gynaecological cancers.
With so few opportunities to highlight the symptoms of ovarian and other gynaecological cancers, we must make the most of every opportunity.
We received support from 33 Members of Parliament and were particularly grateful to our lead signatories, Jim Dickson MP, Terry Jermy MP, Victoria Collins MP and Sharon Hodgson MP for supporting our call.
On Wednesday 19 November our team travelled to the Department for Health & Social Care in Westminster to mark the hand in of our letter.
We were delighted to be joined by Diane, Barbara and Milly, who are passionate about raising awareness of ovarian cancer, alongside some of the lead signatories on the letter and Helen Maguire MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Primary Care and Cancer.
We look forward to receiving a response from the Government and will share an update as soon as we receive an answer.
What’s next?
- We await our official responses to our cervical screening information campaign. We'll continue to urge Governments across the UK to update cervical screening information and signpost to symptoms
- In England, we're awaiting the publication of the National Cancer Plan, which is expected in early 2026
- Action Groups - please join us for our next action group meetings. If you live in Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland and want to join please sign up for more information
- During Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March, the Policy and Campaigns team will be heading to Westminster to hold our annual awareness event for MPs
- We'll be putting in place our plans for the Scotland and Wales elections taking place in May
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