EAST Lancashire laboratories are coping well with smear test results even though some health trusts across the country are facing a backlog.

NHS East Lancashire reported the number of women coming forward for cervical screening had doubled earlier in the year, following reports of reality TV star Jade Goody’s battle with cancer.

Miss Goody, who became famous after appearing on Big Brorther, died in March this year aged just 27.

In East Lancashire the increase in demand for cervical smears doubled across all age ranges during February as Miss Goody urged women to be screened for the disease.

At the height of the increased demand, the St Peter’s Centre in Burnley saw more than 40 patients – as many as they usually deal with in a month – in just 10 days.

However NHS East Lancashire said it had coped well with the demand and urged any women wanting a smear test to contact their GP.

Figures show that early detection and treatment due to cervical screening can prevent 75 per cent of cancers developing.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “We did see an increase in demand for smear tests across all age ranges in February but that has now dropped and we are not aware of any unexpected delays in the release of results to patients.

“Presently laboratories are coping well with the current demand.

“We see cervical cancer screening as a vital tool towards early detec-tion of cancer therefore improving the chances of the treatment being successful. We urge anyone who is concerned about cervical cancer to visit their GP surgery.”

Other health trusts were reportedly struggling to deliver test results due to the “Jade Goody factor”. Health bosses at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and Cumbria PCT have apologised for taking an average of 12 weeks to process the results in South Lakeland and North Lancashire, which is twice the usual six-week target.

Teenage girls across East Lancashire have also taken up the new human papilloma virus vaccination, which it is hoped will slash cervical cancer rates.