The CHOICE service delivered by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB) engages priority groups who may face barriers to accessing routine sexual health care and screening.
In 2024, the CHOICE service collaborated on a HPV self-sampling pilot with Hywel Dda University Health Board, Public Health Wales, and Life Sciences Hub Wales. Offering an alternative option through Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) self-sampling, designed to make screening more accessible. This initiative aims to provide a welcoming and alternative screening option to engage women who have previously declined traditional cervical screening. By offering self-sampling, the pilot seeks to address the unmet sexual health needs of marginalised populations.
The project has fostered collaboration among key stakeholders including Health Boards, Cervical Screening Wales, Public Health Wales, and Novosanis, developers of Colli-Pee®, urine collection device for HPV testing. By facilitating this collaboration, many previously disengaged clients have consented and undertaken self-sampling. This initiative specifically targets individuals who have not participated in traditional screening services.
Project aims:
- To reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for underserved communities through a prevention focussed service.
- To increase engagement for those who haven’t maintained, or engaged with the cervical screening service for routine testing.
For more information about the CHOICE service, please email Julie.McDonald@wales.nhs.uk, Senior Public Health Practitioner, CTMUHB, or our Project Lead Debbie.harvey@lshubwales.com.
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
- Cervical Screening Wales
- Public Health Wales
- Novosanis
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
- Life Sciences Hub Wales
Collaboration and facilitation of meetings between key stakeholders
CTMUHB have been collecting tests some include swabs, some urine to determine positive results and follow up.
All clients offered self-sampling have accepted so far.
Full data collection currently underway.
A qualitative survey to be conducted alongside the testing to gain feedback on experiences around self-screeing.
This HPV self-sampling pilot has made cervical screening more accessible. By offering this service to underserved communities, it’s fostering improved health outcomes, access to screening quicker, and preventing cases through earlier detection and support.
Clients have been empowered to participate actively in managing their own health, eliminating barriers such as discomfort, stigma, and leading to improved trust in healthcare services. Early findings suggest a potential for greater uptake of regular screening in the future.
The CHOICE ‘Find and Test Service’ pilot delivered by CTMUHB, offers HPV self-sampling, either by self-collected swab or through urine collected using a Coli-Pee device, as part of its commitment to reducing health inequalities and improving access to sexual health services. Women at higher risk of cervical cancer are often screened under mainstream services, with barriers to engagement in screening programmes often complex.
Increased engagement through collaboration. The CHOICE service provides tailored outcomes based sexual health care that empowers individuals to actively participate in their own health management, by offering support to women and their partners who might otherwise feel alienated from traditional, mainstream sexual health care services.
Delivering targeted interventions and addressing barriers to traditional screening. Leading to a 100% acceptance rate of self-sampling among those approached. Conduct comprehensive data collection from February 2024 onwards, gathering swabs and urine samples to identify HPV-positive cases for follow-up.