FEARS are growing the coronavirus crisis has led to even more women missing vital cancer tests which could save their lives.

NHS Digital data shows 79 per cent of the 124,856 women in Cumbria eligible for a smear test by the end of 2019 had been screened.

That means 26,529 women in the county missed out on a potentially life-saving smear test.

Cervical screening services across England are slowly unpausing following disruption during lockdown, which saw invites suspended and appointments delayed.

Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust said while low uptake was "already a concern" before Covid-19, the pandemic has created further barriers to attendance.

A survey of 851 women carried out by the trust reveals delayed and cancelled cervical screening appointments have left nearly four in 10 women feeling worried, while 12 per cent say they are less likely to attend than before the pandemic. Some 13 per cent think it is best to put off getting a smear test at the moment.

A quarter of women said they are worried about their risk of catching the coronavirus if they attend a screening, while fears around safety (11 per cent), not wanting to put "additional strain" on the NHS (15 per cent) and uncertainty over changes to services were also selected as reasons for concern.

Walney School teacher Lucy Jagger, whose mum died of cervical cancer after missing three tests, said she was ‘terrified’ that thousands of eligible Cumbria women missed their last test.

“I’ve actually had issues myself during lockdown period where I had to go into the doctors for a scan for polycystic ovaries during lockdown," said the 31-year-old.

“I got that feeling of do I bother the doctor? Which I think is what everyone is thinking at the moment.

“And a lot of people are frightened to go into the hospital because of the pandemic but it is completely safe.

“When I went in for checks, I didn’t once feel unsafe, everyone was in PPE and keeping distance.

“It’s so important to go, it could potentially save your life.”

Mrs Jagger promised her mum in her final moments that she would promote cervical smears among women of all ages and remain outspoken about women’s gynaecological cancers.

She said: “My mum said to me three days before she slipped into unconsciousness that I’m not going to be here anymore so can you please keep talking about it and pushing people to go.

“She had missed three appointments and hadn’t taken much notice of the symptoms.

“So when I recently began noticing tummy pains, I thought this could be happening to me.

“When you’ve seen someone that close to death, it makes you really aware of your health.”

Mrs Jagger described the sharp drop in those attending smear test appointments as ‘terrifying’.

“All it does is make me want to shout about it more and encourage as many women as I can to get a smear test,” she said.

“There is someone out there who hasn’t gone for a smear test and has a daughter, a sister, a family and they will leave a gap like our mum has.

“I’m getting married soon and planning a wedding without my mum is hard.

“This needs shouting for the rooftops - even if it reaches just one more person, one more family.”

Dr Sarah Arun, GP executive lead for elective care and cardiovascular health at Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group said: “A lot of the national screening programmes were paused when lockdown was announced, but now lockdown is being eased, they are starting up again.

“Primary care was very quick to respond to the coronavirus outbreak and within days identified ways of keeping patients exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 separate to those who aren’t.

“Some GP surgeries identified different sites, and these are called Red Hubs, while others use different rooms in their surgeries. So, we can assure women that when they come for their cervical screening, procedures are in place to keep them safe.

“All clinicians will be adhering to government guidance and will be using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which includes, plastic aprons, face masks and plastic gloves. Also, all rooms are being cleaned down between each patient and waiting rooms have been restructured to ensure a two-metre distance can be kept between people.”