During Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, NewsMedical spoke to Tim Simpson, UK and Ireland General Manager at Hologic, a leader in women’s health technology. Hologic is known for its innovative early detection and treatment solutions, including 3D mammography and cervical cancer screening.
Here Tim explores how Hologic is leading critical conversations about effective testing methods and developing technology to support healthcare systems in obtaining accurate results.
Could you introduce yourself and provide details of your professional background?
I’m Tim Simpson, UK and Ireland Managing Director of Hologic, a global medical technology innovator focused primarily on improving women’s health and wellbeing through early detection and treatment.
Her advances include developing a commercial 3D mammography system to detect breast cancer earlier. Leadership in testing for cervical cancer, sexually transmitted infections and respiratory diseases; and minimally invasive surgical technologies for uterine fibroids and abnormal uterine bleeding.
The company also stars in women through it Hologic Global Women’s Health Indexwhich provides a science-backed data framework for improving women’s well-being.
Can you start by introducing Hologic and its mission, especially during Cervical Screening Awareness Week?
As a global champion for women’s health, we develop cutting-edge solutions to improve the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions.
When it comes to cervical screening, we are actively conducting important discussions about the most effective testing methods, as well as developing technology that supports healthcare systems to obtain accurate results quickly and efficiently.
How would you rate the current effectiveness of cervical cancer screening programs in the UK and Ireland, and what do you see as the major barriers facing these programmes?
The cervical screening program in the UK is well established, however we are seeing a worrying trend of declining attendance. Recent statistics revealed that only 68.7% of eligible women in England were adequately screened, well short of the target of 80%.1
A key priority should be to make screening as accessible as possible and to continue to educate and develop targeted awareness campaigns tailored to different groups of women about the importance of screening, even after receiving the ‘clear’ in past.
While there are potential options on the table that could help with accessibility, such as self-sampling for example, research found significantly lower hrHPV positivity compared to samples collected by clinicians, so follow-up appointments are very important.2
Image credit: MMD Creative/Shutterstock.com
Hologic is known for its innovations in women’s health. Could you highlight some of the latest technological advances your company has developed to improve cervical cancer screening programs?
For the past two years, we have been working hard on GeniusTM Digital Diagnostics System, an artificial intelligence algorithm based on deep learning with advanced volumetric imaging technology to detect precancerous lesions and cervical cancer cells.3
Using artificial intelligence to review diagnostic material enables cytotechnologists and pathologists to increase their efficiency without compromising accuracy. It also allows cyto-screeners to review images remotely.
This means images can be distributed to remote controllers on a network, making the most of any spare capacity, capacity and speeding up time from initial test to diagnosis. Therefore, GeniusTM The Digital Diagnostics System could be used across all trusts, facilitating collaboration across the country.
We are excited about its potential to drive positive change in the NHS and cervical screening programs in the future.​​​​
What are some of the main barriers women face when it comes to actually attending cervical screenings, and how is Hologic addressing these issues to make the process easier and more accessible?
Fear of embarrassment, pain and lack of understanding are just some of the common reasons young women put off getting cervical screenings.4 Along with these barriers, it is also important to address the inequalities that prevent women from attending their appointments.
A qualitative study published in the British Medical Journal interviewed both women from different ethnic backgrounds and white British women. This found that ethnic minority women felt there was a lack of awareness in their community, with some not recognizing the terms ‘cervical check’ or ‘smear test’.5
Addressing these disparities through education, national screening programs and new approaches is key to ensuring better health outcomes for more women. Working with different organisations, such as charities who have vital knowledge of women’s experiences, is also vital to better understanding how we make cervical cancer screening accessible to all.
We developed a Cervical Screening Guide that supports and prepares women for what to expect in their screening from start to finish. We hope that addressing common misconceptions will help women feel empowered to keep their cervical screening appointments.
How important are awareness campaigns, such as Cervical Screening Awareness Week, to achieving public health outcomes, and what role does Hologic play in these initiatives?
Awareness weeks such as Cervical Screening Awareness Week have an important role to play in promoting public health outcomes by increasing knowledge about cervical screening, encouraging participation and enabling early detection of cancer of the cervix.
Campaigns can help address misconceptions, reach underserved populations, and advocate for better health care policies and funding. As a women’s healthcare company, we play a critical role in these initiatives by providing resources and expertise, developing advanced screening technologies, creating partnerships and advocating for improved healthcare policies. Together, we hope these efforts help improve screening rates, early detection, and overall health equity.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for the future of cervical cancer screening in the UK and Ireland and how does Hologic plan to contribute to that vision?
As we look to the future, we are responsible for ensuring that the conversation about cervical health and screening continues beyond awareness days. Only together can we achieve the NHS’s ambition to eradicate cervical cancer by 2040.
As I’ve mentioned before, it’s vital for women to keep up with their regular cervical screening appointments and get the HPV vaccination for prevention. However, the blame should not rest solely on women. the health care industry must also promote innovation, enhance access and address disparities in the cervical cancer screening program.
At Hologic, we share the vision of the NHS and will continue to invest in the development of our solutions and services to enable healthcare professionals to provide better healthcare for women.
Where can readers find more information?
About Tim Simpson
Tim Simpson is the managing director of Hologic, UK and Ireland. Tim joined Hologic in 2019 as UK Operations Director, before becoming General Manager of Hologic UK and Ireland in February 2022.
Sources:
2. Aitken CA et al. Sociodemographic characteristics and screening outcomes of women who prefer self-sampling in the Dutch cervical cancer screening program: a population-based study. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2023? 32(2): 183-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965. EPI-22-0712. [Accessed 10 July 2024]
