Cervical smear tests will be carried out at GP surgeries across the island during the lockdown.

Director of Public Health, Dr Henrietta Ewart and the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that the procedure can continue to be offered safely, with mitigations to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Cervical screenings at GP surgeries were halted temporarily to reduce the amount of people overwhelming practices during the current lockdown period whilst the risks were considered.

DHSC said that this was in line with agreed measures implemented across general practice as part of its Covid-19 standard operating procedures.

The department is working throughout lockdown to ensure that as many services are maintained as possible, focusing on the urgent, emergency and cancer pathways.

GP practices can continue providing cervical screening appointments, in a change to the previous lockdown standard operating procedure, and in the wider interests of patients.

Enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required and primary care providers have been given guidance to this effect.

Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford said: ’We aim to keep as much open as possible in this third lockdown period for the island, and are reviewing the position daily in managing the risk to patients and staff, and in this case balancing the importance of cervical screening with the measures needed to beat the virus back in our community. We have written to GPs to advise them that they should continue with cervical screenings with enhanced use of PPE.

’I would like to put on record my thanks for the hard work of GP practice teams island-wide. They are working under pressure in demanding frontline roles, in a situation where many patients are understandably anxious. I am confident that everyone is doing their best for patients at this very difficult time,’ he added.

Mr Ashford concluded: ’Our wider approach to maintaining activity across health and social care services is mindful of changing staff availability, given the current circumstances - and this will be kept under continual review.’

Screening programmes for bowel cancer and breast cancer are also continuing during the lockdown, with enhanced use of PPE, and patients are encouraged to attend their appointments.

Patients not due for screening at the present time, but who are concerned about possible symptoms, should discuss these with their GP.