Screening: cervical screening (25 to 49 years)
Indicator
The proportion of patients eligible for cervical screening and aged 25 to 49 years at end of period reported whose notes record that an adequate cervical screening test has been performed in the previous 3.5 years.
Indicator type
General practice indicator suitable for use in the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
This document does not represent formal NICE guidance. For a full list of NICE indicators, see our menu of indicators.
To find out how to use indicators and how we develop them, see our NICE indicator process guide.
Rationale
A cervical screening test is a way of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix. Detecting and removing abnormal cervical cells can prevent cervical cancer. Cervical screening aims to reduce the number of people who develop cervical cancer and the number who die from it. Cervical cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. In 2016 to 2018 there were approximately 3,200 new cases in the UK every year (see Cancer Research, 2021), and around 33% of cervical cancer cases are detected by screening (see NHS England's data on routes to diagnosis for 2020). Target uptake is 80% national coverage. The first invitation for cervical screening is sent when an individual reaches 24.5 years of age. People are recalled every 3 years until they turn 50 when the recall interval changes to every 5 years. This indicator aims to improve uptake of cervical screening and ensure it is performed at the appropriate intervals according to a person's age.
Source guidance
Specification
Numerator: The number of patients in the denominator whose notes record that an adequate cervical screening test has been performed in the preceding 3.5 years.
Denominator: The number of patients eligible for cervical screening aged 25 to 49 years.
Calculation: Numerator divided by the denominator, multiplied by 100.
Exclusions:
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Patients without a cervix.
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Patients who have not responded to 3 invitations to screening.
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Patients who are pregnant.
Expected population size: Quality and Outcomes Framework data for 2022 to 2023 (indicator CS005) shows that 16.9% of people in England are eligible for cervical screening aged 25 to 49 years: 1,691 patients for an average practice with 10,000 patients. To be suitable for use in QOF, there should be more than 20 patients eligible for inclusion in the denominator, per average practice with 10,000 patients, prior to application of personalised care adjustments.