The attached letter is important for anyone who takes cervical smears in their day to day practice. The service is changing over to primary HPV testing and anyone who takes smears needs to complete the training as detailed in the letter:

August 2019

 Please cascade to all cervical screening sample takers in the following:

 

• Cannock Chase CCG
• North Staffordshire CCG
• Shropshire CCG
• South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsula CCG
• Staffordshire & Surrounds CCG
• Stoke on Trent CCG
• Telford and Wrekin CCG
• Colposcopy clinics
• Sexual Health Services
• MOD
• HMP YOI Drake Hall

 Dear colleague(s),

Cervical Screening Programme Conversion to HPV Primary Screening

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Cervical Screening programme will be implementing the change from Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) to High Risk Human Papilloma Virus (hrHPV) as of  23^rd September 2019 . This is in line with NHS England’s Long-Term Plan to implement HPV primary screening for cervical cancer across England by 31^stDecember 2019.

As the lead laboratory provider for Lot 9 – West Midlands area, we want to keep you informed of developments and to seek your support to ensure the conversion of HPV primary screening in your area is implemented smoothly.

Please note the following:

 

• The sample taking process remains unchanged.
• For the moment the laboratory service will remain unchanged –  all samples are still to be sent to, and reports will come back from the Wolverhampton laboratory.

 

• Sample takers are required to familiarise and understand the new pathway so that they can inform and counsel women on the test and results as appropriate.

 

• Training will be provided via the following link for the online course, which all sample takers are required to https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/nhs-screening-programmes/ once completed please email your certificate, pin number and location to rwh-tr.hpvscreening@nhs.net

 

For reference the modules cover the following elements and will take approximately 30 minutes to complete:-

 

• Unit 1: Introduction
• Unit 2: HPV Primary screening pathways.
• Unit 3: The role of HPV in Cervical disease and HPV transmission
• Unit 4: Communication
• Unit 5: Taking the test
• Unit 6:Quiz

 

• The invitation letters have been switched on the Exeter system as of 12^th August 2019. This means invitations issued after this date are for HPV primary screening.

 We acknowledge and appreciate this will no doubt be a challenging time over the summer period, however we require your cooperation and support in this request.

 

Actions required

 

1. Please cascade this letter to all cervical screening sample takers within your service.

 

2. Please allow sample takers time to undertake and complete the necessary online training course

 

3. All Sample takers are required to register to complete the course using the link provided https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/nhs-screening-programmes/ once completed please email your certificate, pin number and location code to rwh-tr.hpvscreening@nhs.net entitled “HPV training complete”. This will allow the laboratory to update the Pin Register.

 

4. Services should obtain a small supply of hrHPV invitation leaflets from PCSE at https://secure.pcse.england.nhs.uk/HomePortal/. These are to be issued to the small number of women who may have delayed making appointments and will therefore attend on or after 16^th September having had an invitation for LBC screening prior to 1^st

 

This service change will go live on 23rd September. Any cervical screening sample taken on or after that date will initially be tested for the presence of hrHPV – if positive, cytology will be performed, and colposcopy referral determined by this result. Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-hpv-primary-screening including a leaflet and links to other resources.

 

If you have any enquiries about this change in service delivery, please email rwh-tr.hpvscreening@nhs.net or phone the laboratory on 01902 444498.

 

Kind regards

Roy Cooper

Roy Cooper

CSPL/HBMS Cytology/Pathway Manager