Cervical Cancer elimination strategy: action plan

Section 2 – Accelerating change (2026-2029)

2.1 Context

The actions in the previous section are essential for the long term sustainability of our programmes, as well as for our elimination ambitions. However, as we have acknowledged, they will take time to realise – time we do not have if we want to reach our 2040 target.

Fortunately, we also know that there are interventions that can make a difference even without new systems. They rather rely on the ingenuity of our workforce and the collaborative strengths of partners across health, education and the third sector.

These actions range in scale and complexity, and, in some cases, work will be needed to identify where we target our resources. As with the actions in section 1, our community network will play a vital role in shaping those set out here. Taken together, we believe they can better serve women over the next three years, and begin saving lives long before 2040.

We have provided a three year window for these actions to balance the need to take time to develop interventions and have an impact, with the need to assess where we are and recalibrate if necessary. We will review progress on an annual basis.

2.2 Key actions

2.2.1 Direct interventions to increase uptake of HPV vaccination

We will:

• Work to increase uptake of vaccination in school settings and beyond by:
  • Publishing recommendations on how to improve processes for consent to make it easier for school-age children or their carers to agree to the HPV vaccine
  • Piloting innovative approaches to reach under-vaccinated groups, with evaluation reports guiding national rollout
  • engaging with youth services and third sector partners to Review the effectiveness of vaccination pathways for young people not in formal education and proposing new pathways if necessary.
• Increase opportunities to reach unvaccinated women under 25 by:
  • Ensuring each Health Board has a clear pathway and range of accessible, clearly sign-posted settings to offer the catch-up vaccine to unvaccinated women under age 25

What we will achieve

These actions are designed to raise HPV vaccination uptake—particularly among groups and in schools where we can see that coverage is lowest. By modernising consent processes, increasing opportunities to receive the vaccine, and ensuring young people outside school settings have clear routes to access vaccination, we will reduce inequalities in vaccine uptake, and generate evidence on what works.

In doing so, we will create a more flexible, accessible vaccination system that meets young people and families where they are; strengthen trusted pathways for those who have previously missed out; and ensures that every child and young adult in Scotland has a fair opportunity to benefit from the protection HPV vaccination offers.

2.2.2 Increasing screening uptake

We will:

• Raise attendance among under-screened women by:
  • Introducing patient navigators to work directly with under-screened groups and encourage screening attendance
  • Working towards full roll-out of self-sampling, beginning with expanding availability within GP practices and then other settings where under-served women may particularly benefit.
  • Prioritising and implementing at least two further screening interventions with proven ability to increase uptake at a local level
  • Establishing new partnerships with third sector organisations working with under-served women (including homeless women, those with disabilities and women in prison) to provide practical pathways for women to be offered screening when overdue

What we will achieve

These interventions will directly address the longstanding and persistent inequalities in cervical screening uptake, helping ensure that all women—regardless of background or circumstance—can participate in screening. Through targeted outreach, new pathways, and supportive interventions, we will work to reduce physical and psychological barriers to screening; focus resources where they will make the greatest difference; and ensure prevention is more accessible to the women most at risk from cervical cancer.

2.2.3 Support for frontline staff

We will:

• Ensure our frontline staff are equipped to support cervical cancer elimination by:
  • Co-producing and distributing a best practice toolkit for schools and vaccination teams, including guidance on communication with young people and parents/carers
  • Continuing to support NHS Board Peer Workshops to ensure protected space for colleagues to share best practice.
  • Co-producing guidance for staff in a range of settings, including prison workers and third sector organisations, to help them raise awareness of HPV vaccine and screening eligibility
  • Strengthening international clinical and academic networks, including potential to host an international cervical cancer elimination conference in Scotland, to ensure learning from a variety of successful approaches.
  • Nominating a CCE champion in each Health Board, ensuring that local initiatives are coordinated, and that the benefits of CCE are understood across all service delivery areas.

What we will achieve

Frontline workers across health services, education, prisons, and community organisations can influence how people feel about HPV vaccination and cervical screening. Through their conversations, reassurance, and ability to respond to concerns, frontline staff build confidence and trust—particularly for groups who may face barriers to engagement, have lower awareness, or feel anxious about screening or vaccination.

We will produce guidance that is more user friendly because it has been shaped by real world experience, including through our community network. In parallel, supporting staff networks, shared learning, and protected spaces for reflection will help to build a confident, resilient workforce able to adapt messaging for diverse settings.

2.2.4 Communications and Engagement

We will:

• Ensure that everyone in Scotland has the knowledge and support they need to make informed choices by:
• Exploring how vaccination awareness (including HPV) can be supported through Scotland’s school curriculum framework.
• Reviewing and developing information materials in a range of accessible formats to explain the treatment process and the importance of attending after a positive screening test

Working with under-served audiences and our community network to inform a cervical cancer elimination communications campaign, including evaluation to measure changes in awareness and uptake.

What we will achieve

A strong, evidence based communications and engagement approach will ensure that messages about HPV vaccination, cervical screening and treatment are trusted and accessible for all audiences, helping to build confidence in prevention services, counter misinformation, and support people to make informed choices. It will enable us to reach communities who have historically been underserved, provide clarity at every stage of the screening and treatment journey, and create a coherent, consistent national narrative that empowers everyone in Scotland to take up the opportunities that prevent cervical cancer.