What steps it is taking to reduce inequalities in (a) cervical screening uptake and (b) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates.

The Scottish Government is continually seeking to reduce inequalities in the services it provides. For example, in cervical screening, work is under way with third sector partners and GP surgeries in areas of multiple deprivation to pilot interventions designed to increase awareness of, and uptake in, the cervical screening programme. This work will be evaluated and best practice shared across all NHS boards.
Furthermore, a review of communications materials used in the cervical screening programme will begin shortly. The review will consider whether current materials could be adapted or enhanced to ensure accessibility and will be tested with a range of audience groups before being published.
Health Protection Scotland has carried out analyses on HPV vaccination by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) in Scotland. Their research report, published in 2013 in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23986492, found that routine vaccination of HPV in 12-13 year olds is very equitable across all SIMD scores as well as denomination. Uptake of HPV vaccination by SIMD is routinely monitored and where statistics indicate a significant problem it will be looked at in more detail to understand the reasons for this.
NHS boards ensure equitable access to HPV vaccination by offering girls, who have missed their vaccination, the opportunity to complete their vaccination course in the following and subsequent school years. This increases the chances of these girls completing their HPV vaccination course before they leave school.