Women with learning difficulties across Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead and Ascot are being urged to have a cervical screening test after research showed that many are not taking up the free invite.

The message comes as Cervical Cancer awareness week draws to a close. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening and its role in preventing cancer, as well as encouraging women with learning difficulties to be tested when invited.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer for women under 35, although it is largely preventable thanks to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme.

But in England fewer than one in three women with a learning disability who are eligible for the test received cervical cancer screening.

Dr Anant Sachdev, local GP and the Clinical Commissioning Lead for Cancer across East Berkshire said: “The proportion of women with learning difficulties who get the test is very low compared to the wider population and the NHS is working to combat this.

“It is really important for women with learning difficulties to attend cervical screening as it can detect pre-cancer abnormalities, which if left untreated may develop into cancer. We are also asking their friends and loved ones to encourage and support them to get the test done."

The three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in East Berkshire – Slough; Windsor, Maidenhead and Ascot; and Bracknell and Ascot – have signed up to the Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust ‘Time to Test’ pledge demonstrating commitment to raising awareness of cervical cancer prevention in the workplace and ensuring female employees can access cervical screening.