Cervical cancer screening age to be debated in Parliament

Labour MP Alison McGovern said the death of Sophie Jones, who died of cervical cancer aged 19 after she was refused a smear test because of her age, shows that a "culture change" is needed within the NHS.

Speaking during a debate on lowering the age of eligibility for cervical screening from 25, she said that the NHS "must listen to young women".

"There are lots of forces in society that are set up to undermine young women," she added. "Please let's not have the NHS be one of them."

A mother has prompted a debate in Parliament after losing her 19-year-old daughter Sophie Jones to cervical cancer in March, saying that her child couldn't have a test due to her age.

In the commons, Steve Rotherham MP stated that he wasn't calling for routine cervical screening for all women under 25, but for "guidance, that women should be able to request a smear regardless of their age".

ITV News' Medical Editor Lawrence McGinty reports:

More: Cervical cancer screening age to be debated in Parliament

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, a charity dedicated to those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities, told ITV News that women who are invited to take smear tests are increasingly failing to make the appointments.

More: Do you know the symptoms of cervical cancer?

Following 19-year-old Sophie Jones' death from cervical cancer, 322,000 people have supported a campaign to change the law on smear tests

MPs will today discuss lowering the age limit for cervical screening from 25 to 16 after the record-breaking petition drew 200,000 more signatures than is required to trigger a Parliamentary debate.

The campaign was started by the family of the Merseyside teenager, who died in March after doctors refused her request for a smear test.

She had been suffering from pelvic pains, prolonged menstruation and loss of appetite, but was not screened because of her age.

Watch: Sophie Jones' sister: A test would have saved her life

The twin sister of a 19-year-old who died from cervical cancer despite repeated pleas to doctors for a smear test has said she believes her sibling would still be alive if she had been screened.

Ashleigh Jones told Good Morning Britain her sister Sophie would still be alive if doctors had given her a smear test after she complained of pelvic pains, prolonged menstruation and loss of appetite.

She said: "I think it would have saved her life. I think even if she had had it two months earlier, it could have saved her life."

Sophie's Mum Peri Cawley, Ashleigh and other sister Chelsea were speaking ahead of a debate in Parliament lower the age women are eligible for smear tests from 25, in the wake of Sophie's death.

The age at which young women can first be tested for cervical cancer will be up for debate in Parliament later today, MPs have said.

A campaign to lower the age was brought by a bereaved mother, who lost her 19-year-old daughter in March when doctors failed to correctly diagnose the cervical cancer she was suffering from.

Sophie Jones had complained of pains in the pelvic area, severe back pain and lower stomach pain back in January 2013, but was not diagnosed until November after numerous doctors had dismissed her pleas for a smear test, partly because she was under 25.

Read: Cervical cancer test fears

During the summer of 2013 Sophie stopped eating and was referred to a gastroenterologist as doctors suspected she had Crohn's disease.

She was then referred to a gynaecologist who admitted her that day and immediately referred her for a colposcopy which showed she had cancer.

The campaign to bring this debate to Parliament secured more support than any other in the government e-petition website's history - beating Stop the Badger Cull' and 'Convicted London Rioters should lose all benefits!'.

Read: Ministers blamed over rise in overdue smear tests