Major honours in national awards announced for campaigns helping to save lives

Major honours are announced today for campaigns helping save women from a disease which claims around three lives every day.

With latest figures showing high numbers of women not turning up for life-saving cervical screening, the Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Cervical Screening Awards 2011 has recognised the UK’s top initiatives to boost awareness and uptake of the test.

Robert Music, Director of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity, said: “One in five women nationally are not taking up their invitation to attend a five minute test that could mean the difference between life and death. For women under 35 that figure is even worse, with one in three not attending.

“Our national awards not only reward outstanding work which is making a massive difference to women in local communities but they also spotlight that work so others can take it back to their part of the country, enabling women nationwide to benefit.”

Professor Sir Mike Richards, National Cancer Director commented: “Screening is estimated to save 4,500 lives every year in England alone and local campaigns play a crucial role in encouraging all eligible women to accept screening invitations. Cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease and all the entrants’ efforts to increase accessibility and understanding among women may well save lives.”

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Screening Awards Winner 2011:
Annie Emery, Programme Manager at the Lesbian and Gay Foundation, NHS Salford, for ‘Are You Ready For Your Screen Test’ - an outstanding campaign to raise awareness that lesbian and bisexual women need regular cervical screening tests.

Highly Commended:
Jody Pritchard, Programme Manager of the Community Health Improvement Team, Dudley PCT for ‘Life Is Precious’ – an innovative campaign working closely with minority and ethnic communities to improve cervical screening uptake.

For more information and to arrange interviews contact Elizabeth Udall, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust on 07515 852690 or [email protected]

Notes For Editors
• The Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Cervical Screening Awards 2011 were launched in June 2011 during Cervical Screening Awareness Week. Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust (www.jostrust.org.uk) is the UK’s only dedicated cervical cancer charity offering support and information for those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. National Helpline 0808 802 8000
• The judging panel included: Julietta Patnick, Director, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes; Tim Elliott, Team Leader, Cancer Screening and Male Cancers at the Department of Health; Maggie Luck, Screening Coordinator, Public Health, Camden PCT, Robert Music, Director, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
• An NHS Information Centre report in October 2010, showed that although coverage had remained steady at 78.9% only 3.3 million women aged 25-64 in England took up their cervical screening invitation in 2009-10 compared to the previous year’s peak of 3.6 million (a rise in cervical screening rates for the first time in almost a decade, attributed to the ‘Jade Goody Effect’).
• Around three women in the UK die each day from cervical cancer, with someone being diagnosed every three hours facing an uncertain future. Over 300,000 women a year are told they may have a cervical abnormality that could require treatment.
• It is estimated that the NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves 4,500 lives every year. Cervical cancer is predominantly caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which can be caught as soon as you start having intimate relationships