New analysis published today by Labour shows that some 360,000 more women are overdue to be screened for cervical cancer compared to three years ago, as women struggle to book check-ups at their local GP surgery at convenient times.

Despite cervical screening saving around 5,000 lives every year in the UK, around 3.7 million women are currently overdue for a smear test – an increase of 11 percent since 2009-10.

The biggest increase in overdue smear tests is amongst working age women:

• More than a million women in their thirties are now overdue their tests – 107,000 more than in 2009-10, an increase of 11 percent
• 925,000 women in their forties are overdue their tests – 120,000 more, up 15 percent
• 620,000 women in their 50s are overdue – 84,000 more, up 16 percent

Nine out of ten smear tests are carried out in GP surgeries, and surveys show difficulties in booking cervical screening appointments are a major cause of delayed or missed tests. The most recent GP Patient Survey found that more than one in five people say their surgery opening times are inconvenient, dissatisfaction with opening times is growing, and millions of patients want their local surgery open in the evenings and on weekends.

Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, said:

“Someone is diagnosed with cervical cancer every three hours in the UK, and it kills three women every single day. Smear tests save thousands of lives every year, so this recent drop in uptake is extremely worrying.

“It’s vital to increase public awareness and make it easier for women to book their tests, including outside normal working hours, because it can be tough getting to your local surgery if you’re working, commuting or have to pick your children up after school. Yet a third of women who miss or delay their tests say it’s hard to book an appointment at their local surgery at a convenient time.

“David Cameron promised easier access to GP surgeries, but hundreds of them have shut their doors earlier in the day after Ministers cut the funding for Labour’s extended opening hours scheme. The Government should listen to what patients want so that women don’t have to choose between work and taking care of their health.”