Cervical screening data and statistics
Cervical screening and follow-up test information of women living in WA is securely stored and managed in two locations:
- The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) – managed by the Australian Government Department of Health
- The WA Cervical Screening Register – managed by the WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program
The privacy of the information held in the WA Cervical Screening Register is protected by law – Health (Cervical Screening Register) Regulations, 1991 (WA) (external site).
Information held the NCSR is strictly managed in accordance with the National Cancer Screening Register Act 2016 (external site).
About the National Cancer Screening Register
The National Cancer Screening Register supports Australia’s National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) and National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) by:
- Maintaining a national database of cervical and bowel screening records (that is, a ‘single electronic record’)
- Inviting eligible people to commence cervical screening when they turn 25
- Reminding participants when they are due and overdue for cervical screening and follow-up tests (in support of, but not replacing, reminders generated by the clinic or service provider)
- Providing participant cervical screening histories to laboratories and healthcare providers to inform screening recommendations.
Interacting with the NCSR
Healthcare providers can interact with the NCSR to:
- Access patient's screening histories
- Check and update their patients alternative contact details
- Manage their patient's participation in the National Cervical Screening Program
To interact with the NCSR, healthcare providers can:
- log into the NCSR Healthcare Provider Portal (external site) using a PRODA account
- access the NCSR through integrated clinical software (external site)
- call the NCSR Contact Centre on 1800 627 701
Healthcare providers can also use the NCSR fax template (external site) to request cervical screening histories for the purpose of managing their patients’ cervical screening. Healthcare providers can request screening histories for up to 20 patients per day.
To find out more, visit the National Cancer Screening Register website (external site) or call the NCSR on 1800 627 701.
About the WA Cervical Screening Register
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 WA Cervical Cancer Prevention Program (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.
Request a cervical screening history or test result
To access a patient’s history of cervical test results held in the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR), healthcare providers can:
- log into the NCSR Healthcare Provider Portal (external site) using a PRODA account
- access the NCSR through integrated clinical software (external site)
- call the NCSR Contact Centre 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 email cervicalscreening@health.wa.gov.au.
Reports and statistics
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) publications
- National Cervical Screening Program monitoring report 2023 (external site)
This is the fifth monitoring report of the National Cervical Screening Program since it introduced 5-yearly HPV testing in 2017. - 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. - 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
Snapshot of cervical screening participation in Western Australia 2018-2022 (PDF)
Annual Statistical reports for the Cervical Screening Registry of WA (external site) were published by the WACCPP from 1996 to 2013.
Feedback, compliments and complaints
WA Cervical Screening Register
To provide any feedback, compliments or to make a complaint regarding the WA Cervical Screening Register, please visit the feedback, compliments and complaints page.
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).