The NHS has revealed that more than five million women in England are not up to date with their cervical screening.

The NHS Cervical Screening Programme's 2023-2024 annual report found that only 68.8 per cent of women aged 25 to 64 were screened within the recommended timeframe.

This is a slight increase from the previous year's 68.7 per cent.

The NHS invites women for screening every three to five years, depending on their age, or more frequently if the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected.

The programme is said to "save thousands of lives annually".

Sue Mann, NHS England’s national clinical director for women’s health, said: "We have set ourselves an ambitious target of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040 – a commitment shared by only a few countries worldwide.

"If we are to make real inroads into eradicating cervical cancer, it’s essential that everyone who is invited for screening comes forward when invited."

In the 2023-24 period, 5.12 million individuals aged 25 to 64 in England were due a test and invited to book an appointment.

Of these, 3.25 million were tested during the year.

The NHS has pledged to "eliminate cervical cancer by 2040" by making it as easy as possible for people to get the lifesaving HPV vaccination and encouraging more women and people with a cervix to come forward for their cervical screening.

Earlier this month, the NHS announced the rollout of a new 'ping and book' service that will send alerts to phones to remind women they are due or overdue an appointment.

The plans will begin with invitations for breast screening being sent directly through the NHS App and be expanded to include cervical screening in spring 2025.

Sophia Lowes, senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Cervical screening saves thousands of lives every year in the UK.

"It’s for people without symptoms and helps to prevent cervical cancer from developing in the first place.

"Cancer Research UK encourages everyone who receives an invitation to take part."

The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer as well as other cancers including anal, mouth and throat, head and neck, and penile cancers caused by the HPV virus.

It is offered to girls and boys in secondary school to protect them against catching the HPV infection and developing into pre-cancerous and cancer cells.

Women aged under 25 can get their vaccination, while males born after September 1, 2006, are also eligible.

More information on NHS cervical screening and how to book an appointment is available at www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening.