National Cervical Screening Programme
For consumer information
If you're looking for information about cervical screening, visit Time to Screen or phone 0800 729 729.
If you need help finding support to screen, you will find information here: Screening Support Services.
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.
In this section
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From late July 2023, the primary test for cervical screening will change to a human papillomavirus (HPV) test, with the option of self-testing.
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The Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill passed on 23 June 2021 and amends Part 4A of the Health Act 1956 (the Act). Part 4A of the Act did not anticipate the information technology that is now available.
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Contact the National Cervical Screening Programme in your area to request an updated screening history for your patients or for any information on cervical screening.
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In 2019 the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) changed the recommended starting age for cervical screening from 20 to 25 years.
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This section contains Role-specific information
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The National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) Register is the national database for information relating to cervical screening events.
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The document updates the current Guidelines for Cervical Screening in New Zealand. It provides clinical information and pathways for the management of women with an abnormal cervical screening result, and is used by health providers and colposcopy and laboratory services.
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A number of changes aimed at improving the quality, safety and effectiveness of the Programme took effect from 7 March 2005.
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Access publications and reports relating to the National Cervical Screening Programme.
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Ongoing, systematic monitoring against performance indicators is one of a range of monitoring systems the National Screening Unit (NSU) uses to ensure its programmes are working well. View the Independent monitoring reports in this section.
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Coverage is an important performance indicator for all those involved in the NCSP at both regional and national levels. Coverage is defined as the proportion of women eligible for screening who have been screened in the previous three years.
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The NCSP Policies and Standards document the agreed policies, standards and guidelines for providers of National Cervical Screening Programme services.
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The NCSP Advisory and Action Rōpū will provide leadership to deliver high quality cervical screening outcomes for whānau Māori and Pacific Peoples, and high-risk wāhine through developing knowledge around ways to effectively deliver, monitor, and improve health outcomes with a Māori and Pacific focus.