By Sarah Atherton

MP for Wrexham

'Last week marked cervical cancer prevention week. In Parliament, I attended Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust’s event, which is calling for action to eliminate cervical cancer in the UK. Whilst I hope we achieve this goal very soon, looking at the broader picture of waiting times for cancer treatment in Wales at the hands of the Welsh Labour Government, I have little optimism that this goal will be reached in the near future.

With cancer waiting times the second worst on record in 2023 and only 52.9% of patients starting treatment within two months of a diagnosis - well below the 75% target - cancer patients are continually being let down by the Welsh Government. A Government that continually wastes money.

A couple of years ago, the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales decided that women aged 25-49 will now have to wait five years rather than three for their cervical screening tests (providing there is nothing abnormal on their test). On the surface, this does not raise immediate concerns as action is not required if human papillomavirus (HPV) is not found. However, this policy of extending the wait between cervical screening tests is illogical as there is still a need to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccine in Wales. The HPV vaccine has been proven to significantly reduce the chance of cervical cancer and is offered in secondary schools across the UK.

Statistics from Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust reveal that HPV vaccine uptake for 2022-23 Year 9 schoolgirls in Wales was 72.8%, in England (76%) and Scotland (82.9%). Whilst it is pleasing to see that Wales is not far from the World Health Organisation’s 90% uptake target for 15-year-old girls, until the Welsh Government reach this target, they should not have considered lengthening the gap between screenings. Unlike the Welsh Government, the UK Government continues to offer women a routine cervical screening test every 3 years. I strongly encourage the Welsh Government to follow suit.

Even when women receive abnormal results the Welsh Government’s NHS lengthy wait lists let them down. For example, a constituent contacted my office stating that she had received an abnormal smear test result in August. Five months later, the follow-up appointment was yet to be seen. Despite the Welsh Government’s Suspected Cancer Pathway which ‘aims that all patients begin their treatment no later than 62 days from the first-time cancer is suspected’, this constituent waited 90 more days than she should have. This is the cost of the Welsh Government’s mismanagement of the Welsh NHS, no one should have to suffer this painstaking wait.

Falling short of the 90% uptake target for the HPV vaccine coupled with the Welsh Government’s policy of 5-year gaps between screening tests and lengthy waiting lists creates an environment where some women may be missed out or left behind. Later this week, I am meeting a senior representative of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and I will be voicing my concerns. The best way to protect yourself is to get the HPV jab and to book a smear test. To find out how to book your test, type ‘Cervical Screening Wales’ into this link: www.phw.nhs.wales.

If you have not done so already, I would encourage you to sign my health campaign to ensure that the Welsh Government hears our message loud and clear, Wrexham deserves better. To do so, click on ‘Health Survey’ on my website: www.sarahatherton.org.uk.

In my last My View, I focused on the Welsh Government’s decision to reduce business rate relief for Welsh retail and hospitality from 75% to 40%. Meanwhile, the UK Government continues to back businesses in England with the 75% rate relief. Just one week on, we are seeing the real consequences of this as I have heard from local cafés and other small community focused businesses who are thinking about closure.

Worryingly, decreasing rate relief could also be the final nail in the coffin for many of our rural pubs who are grappling with rising energy and supply costs and are still bouncing back from COVID-19. In 2023, at least one pub shut per week in Wales and now coupled with the slashed rate relief, things will only get worse. As a former brewer, I am particularly proud of Wrexham’s successful brewing heritage. Pubs are the beating heart of our community and play a vital role in tackling loneliness and providing employment. They deserve to remain open and to keep thriving – not to be punished as a result of the Welsh Government’s failure to spend money where it really matters.

At a time when Wrexham has received £57 million worth of investment from the UK Government, the Welsh Government needs to step up and support our local businesses and pubs by keeping rate relief at 75%.

If you are a resident in the current Wrexham constituency boundary and need my assistance with any local or national issues, please contact me on: sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk.'