Cervical screening data and statistics

The WA Cervical Screening Register is a confidential database of cervical screening and follow-up test results of women living in WA at the time of their test. It is managed by the WACCPP in accordance with the Health (Cervical Screening Register) Regulations, 1991 (WA) (external site).

How is information collected?

The collection of information has changed over time. Historically, cervical test information was routinely sent to the WACCPP by the WA pathology laboratory that examined the test.

Since 2018, the WACCPP has received copies of cervical test information relating to WA residents from the National Cancer Screening Register. This is securely stored in the WA Cervical Screening Register for local use.

What information is stored?

The information recorded in the WA Cervical Screening Register may include an individual’s:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Medicare number
• Date and result of cervical screening or follow-up test
• Identifying codes for the laboratory that examined the individual’s cervical screening or follow-up test
• Identifying codes and details for the healthcare provider who requested and performed the test

How is the information used?

Information held in the WA Cervical Screening Register is used:

• to publish reports and statistics for increasing public awareness
• for service planning, monitoring, evaluation and quality improvement
• for approved research into cervical cancer, its alleviation and prevention

The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) enables a single electronic record for each person in Australia participating in the National Cervical Screening Program. 

Healthcare providers can contact the NCSR to:

• request their patient’s screening history
• check and update their patient’s alternative contact details
• manage their patient’s participation in the National Cervical Screening Program.

The Healthcare Provider Portal (external site) provides an online, self-service alternative for health professionals to access and submit patients’ cervical screening data electronically in the NCSR.

For more information, refer to the Healthcare Provider Portal User Guide (external site).

Healthcare providers can also use the Healthcare Provider Cervical Screening History Request fax template (external site) to request multiple cervical screening histories for the purpose of managing patients. Screening histories can be requested for up to 20 patients per day.

Healthcare providers can assist participants to manage their participation in the National Cervical Screening Program by supporting them to complete downloadable forms available on the NCSR website (external site).

Patients can also contact the NCSR to:

• update their address
• request to cease correspondence
• opt out of the Register
• defer their next screening date (e.g. if they are travelling)
• nominate a healthcare provider
• nominate a pseudonym
• appoint a personal representative.

To find out more, visit the National Cancer Screening Register website (external site) or call the NCSR on 1800 627 701.

Request data for service planning, evaluation and research

The WACCPP manages the release of de-identified WA Cervical Screening Register data for:

• monitoring participation rates and trends
• service planning and evaluation
• approved research

To discuss your data requirements, please contact the WACCPP.

Request a cervical screening history or test result

Healthcare providers can request a patient’s history of cervical test results by calling the NCSR on 1800 627 701.

WA Cervical Screening Register

To provide any feedback, compliments or to make a complaint regarding the WA Cervical Screening Register, please contact the King Edward Memorial Hospital Consumer Liaison Service (external site).

If this approach does not address or resolve the complaint, then the matter may be taken to the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) (external site).

National Cancer Screening Register

If you wish to make a complaint regarding the National Cancer Screening Register, please call 1800 627 701.

Care Opinion

To share your experiences of health and care services visit Care Opinion Australia (external site).

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publications

• National cancer screening programs participation data (external site) 
  The AIHW presents the latest cancer screening participation rates and trends for Australia’s three national cancer screening programs: National Bowel Cancer Screening Program; BreastScreen Australia; and the National Cervical Screening Program.
• National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2020 (external site)
  This is the second report to monitor the National Cervical Screening Program since it introduced 5-yearly HPV tests in 2017. Published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
• Cervical screening in Australia 2019 (external site)
  This is the last monitoring report (to 30 June 2017) for the previous ‘Pap test-based’ National Cervical Screening Program, which ceased on 30 November 2017. Published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
• Analysis of cancer outcomes and screening behaviour for national cancer screening programs in Australia (external site)

This report combines data from the national cancer screening programs.

WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program (WACCPP) publications