DOCTORS have seen a ‘worrying’ drop in the number of women attending potentially life-saving cervical cancer screening.

Just 68.3 per cent of women aged 25 to 64 in Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) attended their smears in 2016/17.

This compares with averages across England of 72.1 per cent and Lancashire and Cumbria of 72.9 per cent. It represents the lowest level of uptake of all Lancashire CCGs and a decrease from a 70.8 per cent uptake in 2011/12.

Figures from NHS digital come as the CCG has launched a major drive aimed at protecting women against cervical cancer.

The campaign, running across the borough, aims to encourage women aged 25 and 64 to attend their smear and remove barriers to access.

Blackburn GP Dr Neil Smith, and cancer lead for Blackburn with Darwen CCG, said there had been a ‘recent and worrying’ trend of fewer women attending screening.

He said: “This is especially in the 25 to 29 age group.

“Also, across the UK figures for those not attending screening show a significant rise as age increases, suggesting that as women age, they consider screening less important.

“We are working to try to encourage more women of all ages to attend for their smear.”

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged 35 and under and can be prevented by attending a smear.

Currently in the UK, women are eligible for a smear test from the age of 25 to 64.

Women aged 25 to 49 are invited every three years and women aged 50 to 64 are invited every five years.

Some of the reasons women don’t attend can be through fear, embarrassment or shame, considering themselves as low risk, or not understanding what cervical screening is.

The CCG said it has opened clinics on both Saturdays and Sundays for women to attend cervical cancer screening.

Dr Smith said: “We know that on average cervical screening helps save the lives of approximately 4,500 women in England every year.”