National Cervical Screening Programme

Across the country there are approximately 7300 smear takers, mostly general practitioners and nurses and seven laboratories providing cytology, HPV and histology testing services to the programme.

The 20 district health boards (DHBs) are contracted by the NSU to provide colposcopy services. There is also the option to be seen privately for colposcopy.

Fifteen DHBs provide NCSP regional services, including regional coordination of NCSP services, health promotion, and liaison with key organisations and people relevant to cervical screening. Thirteen of the 20 DHBs have been contracted to provide NCSP-Register services. 

The National Screening Unit (NSU) also contracts 12 independent service providers to provide screening support services for those who need additional support to be screened or attend colposcopy services.

From July 2023, the primary test for cervical screening will change from cytology (testing the cells of the vagina or cervix) to human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, with the option of self-testing.

In November 2019 the NCSP raised the recommended starting age for screening to 25 years for any person with a cervix or vagina who has ever been sexually active. People aged 20–25 years who have already started screening, including those with abnormal cytology, will continue to be recalled and managed as advised by their health provider in accordance with the NCSP Guidelines.

Since the NCSP began in 1990 the incidence of cervical cancer has decreased by about 50 percent. In 2017 the incidence of cervical cancer was 6.1 per 100,000 women.

There has also been a steady decline in cervical cancer mortality since the NCSP began of about 60 percent. In 2016 cervical cancer mortality was 1.7 per 100,000 women.