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Ministers blamed over rise in overdue smear tests

Ministers have been accused of failing to act on the rise in the number of women missing cancer screenings, said Labour. The Health and Social Care Information Centre found an 11% rise in the number of women who had missed checks for cervical cancer.

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'Disingenuous' to blame overdue smears on GP access

It is misleading to suggest the rise in overdue smear tests is the result of a lack of GP access, the Government has said.

A Department of Health spokeswoman claimed there had been a sharp rise in the number of women screened for cervical cancer in the wake of Jade Goody's death in 2009, and now, fewer were choosing to get screened:

It is disingenuous to suggest that more women are unable to get a smear test because of GP access issues.

We know there was a significant rise in women wanting tests in 2009 following Jade Goody's death, and now fewer women choose to take up the invitation to have a smear.

The old 48-hour GP appointment target actually worsened access and under new plans, millions more people will get to see their family doctor at evenings and weekends.

– A Department of Health spokeswoman

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