This section details known users of the report and the purposes for which they use the statistics. All these users have found the information in the report useful for the purposes set out.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
Use the statistics from this publication to inform policy and to monitor the quality of screening services through regional quality assurance teams. The statistics are also used by DHSC to respond to public and parliamentary business.
NHS England
Use the statistics from this publication to monitor the quality of screening services commissioned against key performance indicators set out in the Section 7a agreement with DHSC. The statistics are used for performance management purposes, comparing local statistics with regional and national figures.
Public Health England (PHE)
Screening and immunisation managers in PHE use the statistics for performance management purposes, comparing local statistics with regional and national figures. Statistics are also used in the NHS Screening Programmes in England annual report.
The statistics are used to compare local statistics against national figures in reviewing and developing national screening standards and guidance for programme development.
SQAS teams use the bulletin as a reference document to assess the quality and effectiveness of the cervical screening programme.
Local Authorities (LAs)
LAs and NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are required to prepare Joint Strategic Needs Assessments of Health and Wellbeing (JSNAs), which inform local commissioning of health and wellbeing services. Indicators from the publication form part of the Local Government Association’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: Data Inventory (via the Compendium of Population Health Indicators).
The Cancer Epidemiology Unit
The Cancer Epidemiology Unit at the University of Oxford use data supplied by NHS Digital in their research, to improve the performance of the national screening programmes. Findings are communicated through peer reviewed research papers and public engagement.
Compendium of Population Health Indicators
Indicators from the publication are included in the Compendium of Population Health Indicators which is widely used within the NHS as well as outside it.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is a UK charity dedicated to supporting those affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. The charity regularly runs awareness campaigns to improve screening uptake both at a national and local level. Cervical screening data are used by the charity to help identify how it can best focus its work towards improving screening uptake.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK use the report for planning and evaluating their work. The statistics are used to inform a wide range of work including the charity’s policy positions and public communications about screening. For example, they are able to inform people potentially taking part in screening about the frequency of abnormal results and all the possible outcomes of screening.
Media
The data are used to underpin articles in newspapers, journals, etc. on matters of public interest.
