A cervical screening appointment is to check the health of the cervix. Patients registered female aged between 25-49 are invited every 3 years, and aged 50-64 are invited every 5 years. You'll receive a letter in the post.

Everyone with a cervix should go for cervical screening. If you are not registered as female but have a cervix, your GP can arrange a test. 

It is a test for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) which can causes changes to the cells of your cervix. If they are found, the sample is checked for any changes in the cells of your cervix. They can be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer. 

Patients at our practice can view and book available appointments on the NHS App. 

You can find lots of useful information on the following websites:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/what-is-cervical-screening/

https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-screening 

NHS breast screening uses X-rays, called mammograms, to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel.

Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71. You'll receive a letter in the post. You'll get your first invite between the ages of 50-53.

If you are registered male or missed your last screening, you can ask for an appointment by calling the local breast screening service. Avon Breast Screening are the provider for our patients and can be contacted on 0117 414 7070. 

For more information see the following websites:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-screening-mammogram/

https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/bristol-breast-care-centre/avon-breast-screening 

NHS bowel cancer screening checks if you could have bowel cancer.

Everyone aged 54 to 74 years who is registered with a GP and lives in England is automatically sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years. The programme is gradually expanding to make it available to everyone aged 50 to 53 years.

Make sure your GP practice has your correct address so your kit is posted to the right place.

If you're 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60.

The home testing kit is different to the test used by your GP. If you're worried about a family history of bowel cancer or have any symptoms, speak to a GP for advice.

For more information visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/ 

There is no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. This is because there isn’t a reliable test that can pick up prostate cancer that needs treatment at an early stage and studies have shown that a screening programme would not significantly reduce the number deaths from prostate cancer. 

Instead of a national screening programme, there is an informed choice programme, whereby people over 50 with a prostate can request a test from their GP. If you are symptomatic you should also request an appointment with your GP. 

For more information visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prostate-specific-antigen-testing-description-in-brief 

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/getting-diagnosed/screening 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/psa-testing/ 

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening is a way of checking if there's a bulge or swelling in the aorta, the main blood vessel that runs from your heart down through your tummy. Screening for AAA involves a quick and painless ultrasound scan of your tummy.

In England, screening for AAA is offered to patients registered male during the year they turn 65.

Men aged 65 or over are most at risk of getting AAAs. Screening can help spot a swelling in the aorta early on when it can usually be treated.

If you were male at birth, are over 65, and have not yet been screened, you can ask for a test by contacting your local AAA screening service https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening