NHS Fife has been urged to take urgent action to increase the number of women going for smear tests.
More than a quarter of women in the region are failing to take up the health board’s invitation for potentially life-saving screening, despite rising rates of death from cervical cancer.
Latest figures show 3,200 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK every year.
In Scotland, cases are at an 18-year high.
Screening coverage in Fife is currently standing at 73.5%, the third lowest level in the country, behind only Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Lothian.
NHS Fife said it was working closely with Health Scotland to increase the uptake, but Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP Claire Baker said more needed to be done to persuade women – particularly younger patients and those from ethnic minorities – to come forward.
Her call follows a meeting in the Scottish Parliament with Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the only UK charity dedicated to women affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities.
Mrs Baker said: “Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease, especially if caught early.
“Yet, rather than seeing a decrease in the number of deaths in Scotland, there has been a 32% rise.
“That’s why I am calling for Fife health board to take urgent action and to work proactively towards increasing the number of women getting cervical screening.”
She said research by Jo’s Cervical Cancer had shown uptake is lowest in areas of deprivation, among young women, those from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and those with learning disabilities.
And she suggested targeted awareness campaigns and outreach to address any potential barriers that exist for each group of women.
“While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to increasing these rates, knowing the areas we have to tackle is half the battle,” she added.
An NHS Fife spokesperson responded: “Whilst the delivery and promotion of cervical screening is a Health Scotland initiative, we work closely with them in a variety of ways to deliver key messages locally and increase awareness of the importance of screening.
“For instance, as part of Health Scotland’s recent ‘nip it in the bud’ campaign, we used our social media presence to share videos, images and information aimed at encouraging younger women to attend smear testing.”
