£1.3 Million Self-screening Trial to Close the Inequality Gap in Scotland’s Cervical Cancer Deaths

That the Parliament welcomes the recent award of £1.3 million to the AYEScreen project, which aims to understand the barriers to screening for a preventable cancer and to encourage women in the most deprived parts of Scotland to take part in cervical screening by self-testing; understands that researchers from the University of Aberdeen, led by Dr Sharon Hanley, who is a cancer epidemiologist at the university, will lead the Cancer Research UK-funded initiative to find new ways of reaching women who are least likely to engage with cervical screening and who are at the greatest risk of dying from cervical cancer; notes that this is a largely preventable cancer and since 2008, girls aged between 11 and 13 years old have been eligible to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which protects against around 90% of cervical cancers; recognises that cervical screening remains an important way to help to prevent the disease, particularly for those who did not receive the HPV vaccine in their childhood; understands that data from Public Health Scotland has shown that women in the most deprived areas are twice as likely as those in more affluent areas to develop the disease and are three times more likely to die from it; understands that AYEScren will explore the reasons why women do not engage with screening, including lack of time or childcare, fear, embarrassment and cultural and social barriers, which will then inform a trial where women will be provided with self-sampling kits, which will allow them to conduct tests at a time and place of their choosing and without the need for a medical professional; notes that it is hoped that AYEScreen will provide a much-needed evidence base to inform future Scottish Government policy, and looks forward to seeing the results of this study.