NHS Screening Programmes
What is screening?
Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests to different sections of the population.
The aim is to offer screening to the people who are most likely to benefit from it. For example, some screening tests are only offered to newborn babies, others such as breast screening and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening are only offered to older people.
The practice offers the full range of screening tests which are approved by the NHS. Some of these are organised directly by the practice while many others, e.g. aortic aneurysm and bowel cancer screening are organised indirectly through the wider NHS using the practice data base of registered patients.
For more detailed information about the range of screening tests approved and supported by the NHS please click here.
Lincolnshire Screening Programme
- Bowel Screening in Lincolnshire (men and women)
Bowel screening is offered to men and women between the ages of 60 and 74.
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening in Lincolnshire (men only)
Men are screened in the year in which they reach 65 years of age. If this is negative then no further routine screening is considered necessary.
- Cervical Screening in Lincolnshire
Women who are registered with a GP in Lincolnshire are automatically invited for screening between the age of 25 and 64.
Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust - Cervical Cancer Screening Video - Breast Screening Service in Lincolnshire
At present women aged between 50-70 are screened. In the near future this will be extended to women aged between 47-73.
- Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Lincolnshire diabetic retinopathy screening information is available by following this link.
- Pregnancy and Newborn Babies
There are six screening programmes offered during pregnancy and for newborn babies - ask your midwife or health visitor. For advice about other types of screening, speak to your GP initially or visit this site
Useful Contacts for the Lincolnshire Programmes
- Breast Screening Unit at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust
Tel: 01522 573999 - Bowel Cancer Hub Freephone Helpline -
Tel: 0800 707 60 60 - Retinopathy Screening Programme
Tel: 01205 358445
Chlamydia Screening Programme
This is a national programme run through the Health Protection Agency. It seeks to opportunistically screen sexually active 15-24 year olds for chlamydia.
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that often has no symptoms; it can affect all those sexually active, but is more prevalent in the 15-24 year olds age group. Chlamydia is serious, it can cause fertility issues in both men and women and is easily spreadable.
There are more than 420 screening sites across the county.
For more information about chlamydia please follow this link, or call our chlamydia screening team on 07879 630619.