WOMEN are being urged to take up smear tests to increase test rates and cut death rates.

New figures have revealed massive differences between the numbers taking up the chance for cervical cancer screening across south Essex boroughs,

Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group came 17th out of 207 CCGs for the high number of women having tests aged between 25-49.

It came 35th for ages 50 to 64.

However Southend was ranked 152 for those aged 25 to 49 who are having tests and 181st for the higher age group.

The worrying disparities also highlights another concerning trend as the number of women overall who are being tested is falling.

In 2008 there was a spike following the diagnosis of Essex Big Brother star Jade Goody.

The dip coincides with thousands of smear tests being re-examined after errors at a Basildon laboratory.

And the news is worrying doctors as the mid and south Essex region has the second lowest survival rate for cervical cancer in the country, with about 55 per cent living longer than five years.

Dr John Cormack, who operates from his surgery in South Woodham Ferrers believes GPs should try to chase up patients themselves.

The practice is opening on Saturdays to allow for smear tests for women who struggle to find time for an appointment during the working week.

He said: “The calling is now done by an outside body. We are removed from the system.

“We are the people who do the smear test.

“We always thought that if it was a letter from the practice, signed personally by me, it wold carry more weight than a duplicated and impersonal letter.”

There are around 3,200 new cervical cancer cases in the UK every year, nearly nine every day according to the figures from the NHS.

Cervical cancer is the 14th most common cancer among women, accounting for two per cent of all new cancer cases in females.

Incidence rates for cervical cancer in the UK are highest for those aged 25 to 29.

Dr Cormack added: “It goes in cycles. Jade Goody had cervical cancer and because she was so high profile, everyone rushed to get tested but otherwise it has faded a bit.

“We are contacting those patients ourselves who haven’t responded to tell them it is important.

“We did have one case where they didn’t respond and when they did it was too late, so it is very important. If we chase them up will we have a bigger effect and improve the take-up because people know us.” Public Health teams for Southend and Castle Point and Rochford were contacted for comments.