DOCTORS challenged ministers over their stance on cervical cancer by calling for the screening age to be lowered to 20.
The Government announced last week the age for cervical screening would not be lowered from 25 in England, despite a high-profile campaign on the issue.
Charities have been calling for younger women to be screened in light of the death of 27-year-old Jade Goody in March.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, women attend screening from the age of 20 and used to in England, up until 2003.
Doctors attending the British Medical Association (BMA) conference in Liverpool voted three to one in favour of introducing screening from the age of 20.
Dr Mary McCarthy said the number of women attending smear tests has dropped 10% in the last 10 years.
“The poorest attenders are those in the younger age group,” she said.
