Petition

Change back cervical screening again from every five years to every three years.

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

The cervical screening period has changed from having a smear test every three years to every five years. This needs to change back to every three years as extending the time frame between smears will cost lives. It does not matter wether you have a clear test to then extend the time frame.
I have a smear every three years and the last one I had I had HPV and abnormal cells, this was in a three year period imagine if I had to wait five years it could have been very different. I would have either had cancer that needed treatment or it might have been too late. We cannot let lives be lost just because someone decided it would be a good idea to extend the time frame. This is not moving forward in prevention it is taking a step backwards.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:

Review the NHS decision to make smear testing every 5 years if HPV negative
Review the NHS decision to make smear testing every 5 years if HPV negative

Timeline

29 Jun 2025 Petition opened for signatures
23 Jul 2025 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 23 Jul 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 27 Jul 2026.