HAMPSHIRE women are being urged to attend cervical cancer screenings following figures which reveal numbers attending check-ups are falling year on year.

The potentially life-saving test can prevent early changes becoming cancerous, but the South has some of the worst uptake of cervical screening in the country.

Data from Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight, covering January-March 2017, shows that of more than 400,000 women aged 25-29, over 100,000 had not had taken up cervical screening in the last three and a half years.

Statistics also show that the number of women aged 25-29 being screened is the lowest in any age group.

Every day nine women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer and two will lose their lives to the disease.

Dr Liz Mearns, medical director at NHS England’s Southampton office said: “We have noticed a fall in attendance of younger women over the past few years, and are concerned that this trend may increase due to misunderstanding of the level of protection that the HPV vaccination offers.

“The first girls who were vaccinated against HPV are now eligible for screening as they reach their 25th birthday. Although they are protected against the two most common HPV types that cause 70 percent of cervical cancers, the risk is not completely eliminated and screening is still an important part of preventing cancer.”

NHS England and Public Health England are supporting Cervical Cancer Prevention Week which runs from today until January 28.

Consultant gynaecologist and cancer surgeon at Spire Portsmouth Hospital Dirk Brinkmann added: “The single biggest risk factor for developing cervical cancer is not being regularly screened. The signs that it may develop can often be spotted early and it can be treated before it even fully starts.”

Dr Mearns added: “It is really important for women to understand the importance of attending cervical screening when they receive a letter from their GP as it can detect pre-cancer abnormalities, which, if left untreated, may develop into cancer. Screening is for people without symptoms as a preventative measure.

“The screening test is relatively simple, takes about 5 minutes and is performed by the Practice Nurse at your GP surgery.

“95 percent of results will be normal and of those that are not, the vast majority can be treated very easily and will never develop in to cancer.

“I urge women who may have received a letter and decided not to attend to reconsider and make an appointment – it really is very quick, it could prevent you needing more invasive treatment later on and could ultimately save your life.”