Cervical cancer

8 February 2022

Dear 

ATISN 15954 – Cervical Cancer Screening 

Thank you for your request to the Welsh Government for information under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) received on 12 January 2022 regarding cervical cancer screening.  You have requested the following:

1. Do they know what data/evidence was used to formulate the change to policy?
2. Was all health authorities across Wales engaged on these changes?
3. On what platforms, methods were used for circulating the consultation?
4. Has anyone seen the results of the consultation exercise?
5. Have you access to the advice by the UK Screening Committee and can this not be implemented in Wales 
6. With over 30,000 names on aa petition what are the views of the Health Boards in Wales – have they submitted comments 
7. What submission will the ABUHB be providing to Eluned Morgan the Health Minister on this subject - can we see a copy 
8. Can you please define what are the views of the Health Boards why an extra 2 years between ages 25-49 years old, and the decision the Welsh Senedd will take 

Our Response

1.    The Welsh Government does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) as they will hold this information.
Their contact details can be found below -  

Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Unit
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
United Kingdom

2.    The Welsh Government does not hold this information. Public Health Wales has worked with health boards in Wales and will hold this information. Their contact details can be found below – 

Freedom of Information Office
Public Health Wales
Floor 3
2 Capital Quarter
Tyndall Street
Cardiff
CF10 4BZ

Email: foi.phw@wales.nhs.uk

3.    The Welsh Government does not hold this information. The UK NSC hosted a three-month public consultation exercise on the changes to the cervical screening programme and will hold this information. Their contact details can be found below-  

Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Unit
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
United Kingdom

4.    The public consultation exercise on the changes to the cervical screening programme is published on the UK NSC website:  Cervical Cancer - UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) - GOV.UK (view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk)

5.    The advice of the UK NSC is published on its website: Cervical Cancer - UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) - GOV.UK (view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk)

6.    The Welsh Government has received no comments from health boards in Wales.

7.    The Welsh Government does not hold this information. You may wish to contact the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board as they will hold this information. Their contact details can be found below – 

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Headquarters
St Cadoc’s Hospital
Lodge Road
Caerleon
NP18 3XQ.

Email - FOI.ABB@wales.nhs.uk

8.    The Welsh Government has received no comments from health boards in Wales.

Next Steps

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response. Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at: 

Information Rights Unit, 
Welsh Government,
Cathays Park, 
Cardiff, 
CF10 3NQ 
or Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales

Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above. 
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: 

Information Commissioner’s Office, 
Wycliffe House, 
Water Lane, 
Wilmslow, 
Cheshire, 
SK9 5AF

However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process.

Yours sincerely