Express.co.uk
·25 Aug 2026
NHS to send important message to millions of Britons from Tuesday
The NHS is beginning a phased rollout of free home HPV testing kits for millions of women in England aged 30 to 65 who have not kept up with cervical screening. Recipients can order kits through the NHS app or online, collect a vaginal swab at home and return it to NHS laboratories for testing. The initiative aims to improve screening uptake and support the goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public-health problem by 2040, with current participation at 68.8%, below the 80% target. Health officials and campaigners describe self-testing as a more discreet and convenient option, while emphasizing that it complements rather than replaces clinician-led screening.