MORE TAYSIDE women are having cervical smear tests—and it could be because of reality TV star Jade Goody.

NHS Tayside chairman Sandy Watson said the celebrity, who is having a public battle with cancer, was a possible reason for a rise in women being tested.

Although Tayside is now processing more smears, there is concern about the numbers of young women turning up for testing.

Along with every Scottish health board, in September NHS Tayside started vaccinating schoolgirls against human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes most cervical cancers.

MSP Marlyn Glen wrote to the health board asking what it would do to raise attendance of younger women at cervical cancer screenings.

In his reply Mr Watson highlighted a “significant increase” in cervical screening smears processed in the local cytology lab in the 12 months up to September.

He wrote, “Our priority for cervical cancer prevention in Tayside in 2008 has been the implementation of the HPV immunisation, and the associated publicity, emphasising the importance of cervical cancer, has been very helpful.

“Interestingly, in the year ending September 2008, our local cytology laboratory has reported a significant increase in the number of smears processed.

“This may be related to the excellent HPV publicity campaign, but possibly also to the reality TV personality Jane Goody, who has developed cervical cancer at the age of 27, and the extensive coverage of this through the media.

“There may well be lessons in this for us in how to engage effectively with young people about the screening programme and we will pick up on this when we develop our local and national plans.”

He expressed concern at “a significant fall in uptake in all age groups over the past decade but the decline has been most marked in women in the 20-24 age group.”

He wrote, “Currently the cervical screening programme in Scotland is commissioning a major piece of research to study the reason why women do not attend and to identify ways in which these might be addressed.

“This study will include women in all age groups but the views of young women will be a particular focus.

“A report on this research is expected in spring.”

Ms Glen said, “Systematic screening offers the best prospect of preventing cervical cancer.

“Cancer UK state that it has helped stop an ‘epidemic’ that would have caused around 6000 deaths a year in the UK.

“Since the national programme was introduced in Scotland 20 years ago, the number of cervical cancer deaths has fallen by over half.”