Ministers failing on 'lifesaving pledge' to increase cervical screening – Labour

Labour has accused the Scottish Government of failing to deliver on a “lifesaving pledge” to improve access to cervical screening, after it emerged only one Scottish health board has piloted a home-testing programme.

According to information obtained by Scottish Labour using freedom of information laws, NHS Dumfries and Galloway in the only health board where self-sampling – which enables women to take cervical samples at home – has been piloted.

All other Scottish health boards confirmed they have not yet piloted a programme.

Labour said this breaches the Government’s commitment to make self-sampling available more widely, as set out in its 2021 Women’s Health Plan.

The plan stated self-sampling could boost take-up of cervical screening by potentially overcoming the “barriers” associated with the standard in-person test – including previous trauma, embarrassment and difficulties accessing appointments.

It added the take-up of cervical screening was “unequal”, with women from higher socio-economic areas being more likely to attend screening than those from more deprived areas.

Labour said around one in three women currently do not undergo regular checks, with the majority being in more deprived areas of the country.

The party also pointed out that this week NHS England announced it will begin offering self-sampling tests at home as a means of boosting take-up.

Scottish Labour women’s health spokeswoman Carol Mochan said: “Every day, women are being let down by the SNP Government when it comes to their health.

“The SNP promised to improve access to cervical screening, yet this failure to actually deliver on a lifesaving pledge will leave many of the most vulnerable women at risk.

“This failure falls against a backdrop of broken promise after broken promise on women’s health, and it is those living in our most deprived communities who are suffering the most from this failure.”

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women aged 25 to 35 in Scotland, and Labour pointed out cancer charities have backed self-sampling as a way to save more lives.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the recommendation on June 24, 2025 from the UK National Screening Committee, an independent expert group that advises all four UK nations, which recognises that self-sampling could improve accessibility and increase uptake of cervical screening.

“The screening programme is working to offer the first self-sampling kits in Scotland by spring 2026, and will focus particularly on reducing inequalities.

“The initial rollout will therefore focus on some of the most deprived areas with some of the highest numbers of under-screened women.”