SUPPORT is being shown in North Wales to the Cervical Caner Prevention Week campaign, following controversial change to screenings.

Last week, Public Health Wales announced it was changing the time between screening from three years to five years, providing patients do not have HPV cells identified in a screening.

This was met with outrage by many and a petition was started on Change.org, which currently has more than a million signatures.

Public Health Wales has since apologised for causing upset and provided further clarification on these changes, which it confirms are safe.

North Wales Conservative MS Sam Rowlands is supporting Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2022, which takes place from January 17-23 and highlights the importance of cervical screening.

He said: “Screening is vitally important and I am pleased to back such a worthwhile campaign.

“It is absolutely essential we continue to raise awareness of this disease as all women, and young ones in particular, need to understand that cervical cancer can be prevented by detection of the early symptoms.

"The Welsh Government recently announced that they want to change how regularly women have cervical cancer checks, with women aged 25-50 having to wait five rather than three years for checks.

"This is a concerning decision, the consequences of which need to be properly understood.

“I am urging my constituents to support Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and help to raise awareness of this disease.”

On average 3,197 cases of cervical cancer are discovered each year, accounting for 854 deaths between 2016 and 2018.

Only 51 per cent survive this type of cancer for more than 10 years and, according to Cancer Research UK, 99.8 per cent of cervical cancer cases are preventable.

More information is available on the Public Health Wales website at www.phw.nhs.wales/CSWChanges