The Minister for Health and Care, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, alongside the Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, and the GHA Director General, Mr Kevin McGee, held a press conference this morning following a detailed review of the GHA’s Cervical Screening Programme.  

The press conference was convened to provide a transparent account of the recent lookback exercise undertaken by the GHA to assess the effectiveness and safety of the programme and to reassure the public of the steps being taken to improve screening services.  

The review, which examined all aspects of the cervical screening process, identified areas requiring improvement, particularly in the call and recall system. A working group was established to address these concerns, leading to several key improvements, including:  

1. Enhancing the call and recall system to ensure all eligible women receive invitations for screening.
2. Identifying and contacting women who had not previously been invited for screening.
3. Expanding trained nursing capacity at the Primary Care Centre to increase accessibility to smear tests.
4. Developing an in-house Liquid Based Cytology (LBC) service at the GHA laboratory, supported by newly acquired equipment and trained personnel.  

The Minister for Health and Care reiterated the GHA’s commitment to transparency, accountability and, ultimately, patient safety. As part of this process, the GHA has undertaken an in-depth review of the medical records of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2021.

Key findings include:  

1. Of the 15 women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2021, six had not attended screening within the recommended recall period, and two were beyond the eligible screening age.
2. Thirteen out of the 15 cases showed no evidence that delays in screening contributed to their diagnosis.
3. Two cases were identified as false-negative Pap smears, which were reported as normal but later developed into cervical cancer. Importantly, in 2020 the GHA moved to HPV testing, a significantly more accurate method.
4. The GHA has written to all affected women and families to inform them of the review findings.  

The Minister for Health and Care urged all eligible women to continue participating in the cervical screening programme, emphasising the importance of early detection in preventing cervical cancer.  

A dedicated helpline has been set up for any women with any queries related to cervical screening and rescreening, and an updated FAQ section will be available on the GHA website to provide further information: https://www.gha.gi/public-health/cervical-screening-recall/  

For more information or to check your screening status, please visit the GHA website or contact the dedicated helpline at 200 50666 on Monday to Friday at 4pm to 6:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:00am to 12:00pm for the first week (up until Tuesday the 8^th April 2025), and then every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00pm to 6:30 pm, and Saturdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm.  

Director of Public Health, Dr Helen Carter, said: "The improvements made to the cervical screening programme are significant and necessary steps to ensure its long-term safety and effectiveness. HPV testing is an internationally recognised gold standard, and we now have confidence that our programme is aligned with the best clinical practices."  

GHA Director General, Kevin McGee, added: "Our focus is to build public confidence in cervical screening and ensure that all eligible women have access to timely and high-quality testing. We encourage those who are invited for screening to attend their appointments, as early detection can save lives."  

The Minister for Health, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: "We understand that some women may have concerns and we want to reassure them that the GHA is here to support them. Our priority is ensuring that Gibraltar has a high-quality, world-class cervical screening programme that women can trust. I encourage any woman who would like to check their screening status, or has any concerns, to contact our dedicated helpline on 200 50666.”