Screening Services

NHS screening is a way of finding out if people are at higher risk of a disease or condition, so that early treatment can be offered or information given.

Find out more about each of the services below.

It is estimated that around 1 in 25 men aged between 65 and 74 in England have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. That is why the NHS AAA Screening Programme invites men for screening during the year (1 April to 31 March) that they turn 65.

Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or diagnosed with an aneurysm can request a scan.

Call the Lincolnshire AAA screening programme on 01205 445801 or email ulh-tr.aaascreening@nhs.net

What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a weakening and expansion of the aorta, the main blood vessel in the body. Large aneurysms are rare but can be very serious. The condition is most common in men aged 65 and above.

Why is AAA screening important?

If you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm you will not generally notice any symptoms. This means that you cannot tell if you have one, as you will not feel any pain or notice anything different.

The NHS offers screening in order to find aneurysms early so they can be checked regularly or treated if needed. The easiest way to find out if you have an aneurysm is to have an ultrasound scan of your abdomen.

As the wall of the aorta stretches it becomes weaker and could burst. If this happens, your chance of surviving is only about 20 out of 100. Surgery is the most common treatment to repair large aneurysms that are found through screening. Approximately 97 to 98 out of every 100 patients make a full recovery from AAA repair surgery.

The NHS AAA Screening Programme was introduced after research showed it should reduce the number of deaths from burst aneurysms among men aged 65 and over by up to 50%.

The AAA screening patient decision aid website aims to help men aged 65 and over understand the potential benefits and risks of screening so they can decide if they want to be screened based on the available evidence.

What happens at a screening appointment?

The screening test for AAA is a simple, pain-free ultrasound scan of the abdomen that usually takes less than 10 minutes. The flowchart below explains what happens after you’re invited for a screening appointment.

Women aged 50 to 70, who are registered with a GP, are automatically invited for screening every three years. The evidence shows that screening this age group gives the best chance of detecting any abnormalities early.

You may be eligible for breast cancer screening before the age of 50 if you have a higher than average risk of developing breast cancer. You may be considered to be at an increased risk if you have a family history of breast cancer.

Why should I go for screening?

Early diagnosis of any cancer gives you the best chance of survival and you are less likely to need a mastectomy (removal of the breast). More information about screening and appointments, can be found on the NHS choices website.

What happens at a screening appointment?

At the appointment four breast X-rays (mammograms) are taken, two on each side. The NHS website has further information of what will happen during your appointment. What happens at your breast screening appointment - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Where is screening carried out?

There are hospital screening clinics and mobile site units available. When you receive your invitation, please contact the service to find out where the mobile units are based to book the most convenient venue/site for your screening appointment.

If you have been advised you are due for breast screening, you can contact the breast screening office on 01522 573999 or email ulh-tr.BreastScreening@nhs.net to book an appointment.

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. If bowel cancer is detected at an early stage, before symptoms appear, it is easier to treat and there is a better chance of surviving it. That is why bowel screening is offered to men and women between the ages of 60 and 74.

Between these ages, you will be sent an invitation and then a home screening kit (which is sent away to a lab), every two years. If your results detect any abnormalities, you may be invited for further investigations (usually a colonoscopy). More than 80% of bowel cancers occur in people aged 60 and above.

Why should I take part in bowel screening?

Bowel screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage where people don’t have symptoms and treatment is more likely to be effective. Bowel screening can also detect polyps. These are not cancers, but may develop into cancers over time. They can easily be removed, reducing the risk of bowel cancer developing.

Where is screening carried out in Lincolnshire?

The first stage of screening is a simple home test. The kit arrives through the post and is used to collect a tiny stool sample in a kit. The kit is then sealed in special hygienic freepost packaging and sent to a laboratory where it will be checked for traces of blood, which may indicate a problem.

If any abnormalities are detected an appointment will be made with a screening nurse to discuss your options. These appointments are carried out at hospitals in Lincoln, Boston, Grantham and Louth.

The next stage of the screening process is a colonoscopy. The aim of this is to decide if treatment or further monitoring is required. Colonoscopies are carried out at Lincoln County Hospital and Boston Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire.

Further information can be found on the following link https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/

What is cervical screening?

Cervical Screening, also known as a smear test, is a free health test that helps to prevent cervical cancer. It checks for abnormalities (changes in the cells) on the cervix caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The test does not test for cancer.

In the UK, you are automatically invited for cervical screening if you are:

between the ages of 25 to 64
registered as female with a GP surgery.

You are invited:

every 3 years between age 25 and 49
every 5 years between age 50 and 64

You may get your first invite up to 6 months before you turn 25. You can book an appointment as soon as you get the invite.

It is usually recommended that you do not have cervical screening while you are or could be pregnant. Pregnancy can make the result of your test harder to interpret. More information about cervical screening whilst pregnant can be found on the NHS website.

It is very rare to develop cervical cancer:

under the age of 25
over the age of 64, if you have had regular cervical screening.

If you are worried about any symptoms, you should get them checked by your doctor or nurse, whatever your age.

What happens during a cervical screening appointment?

If you feel worried about going for cervical screening (a smear test), you are not alone. It may help to know as much as possible about what going for cervical screening is like. Ask someone you trust about their experience or speak with your doctor or nurse.

Before your appointment

If you are registered with a GP, you will get a letter telling you it is time for your cervical screening appointment. You will need to contact your GP to book an appointment. If you don’t want to go to the GP, sexual health clinics in your local area may offer cervical screening.
If you have regular periods, try not to book an appointment when you are bleeding as it can make it harder to get a clear sample of cells.
Do not use spermicide or lubricant jelly (lube) for 24 hours before the test, as they can affect the results.

During your appointment

Your whole visit to the GP surgery should not take longer than about 15 minutes, with the test itself taking about 3 minutes.

Your nurse will invite you into the treatment room. They should explain what cervical screening is and check if you have any questions. If you are wearing a dress or skirt, you can leave this on and just remove your underwear.
Your nurse will ask you to lie on an examination bed. Usually you lie on your back with:

1. your legs bent up

2. your ankles together and your knees apart.

Some examination beds have stirrups on them. If yours does, you should place your feet in the stirrups. If this is uncomfortable, you can ask to lie on your left side with your knees bent.

You will be provided with a paper sheet to cover the lower half of your body.
The nurse will tell you when the test is about to start. To begin with they gently put a new, clean speculum into your vagina. A speculum is usually a plastic cylinder with a round end – sometimes a metal speculum is used. The speculum is sometimes the part that people find the most uncomfortable.
Once the speculum is inside your vagina, the nurse will gently open it so they can see your cervix.
Then the nurse uses a small, soft brush to quickly take a sample of cells from your cervix. This may feel a little strange, but should not be painful.

After your appointment

Most people can continue their day as usual after the appointment. You may have some very light bleeding (spotting) for a day after the test, so it can help to wear a sanitary pad or panty-liner.

Cervical screening should not feel painful, but it may feel a bit uncomfortable. If you have any pain or other problems, it is important to let your doctor or nurse know.

Getting the results

Waiting for cervical screening results may make you feel anxious. Most people will have clear results, and about 1 in 20 will have an abnormal result. If this is the case, you will be contacted regarding the next steps, or any further testing required. You can make an appointment to discuss with your GP.

How long will it take to get my results?

The time between having cervical screening and getting your results can also vary depending on where you live. At your appointment, ask your nurse how long it will take to get your results and how you will get them.

Getting your results early or later does not affect what the result is, so try not to worry.

How will I get my results?

You should always get your results letter in the post. If you don’t get a letter within the timeframe your GP surgery gave you, you should contact your GP surgery.

What do my results mean?

This depends on where you live and what type of testing is being done on your sample.

Normal

A normal test result means no abnormal cell changes have been found. You will usually be invited for cervical screening again in 3 or 5 years, depending on your age.

Inadequate

You may need to repeat the test after 3 months because the first one couldn’t be read properly.

This may be because:

not enough cells were collected
the cells couldn't be seen clearly enough
an infection was present

Abnormal

An abnormal result may show borderline or low-grade cell changes (dyskaryosis). These changes are very close to being normal and may disappear without treatment. In some areas of England and in Northern Ireland, your same sample will be tested for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) if these changes are seen.

Your letter will tell you what to do:

If no HPV is found, you can go back to normal (routine) screening.
If HPV is found, you will be invited to colposcopy where an expert will take a closer look at your cervix.

An abnormal result may show high-grade (moderate or severe) dyskaryosis. This means you will be invited to colposcopy, where an expert will take a closer look at your cervix.

All these results show you have abnormal cell changes. This doesn't mean you have cancer. It just means that some of your cells are abnormal, and if they're not treated they may develop into cervical cancer.

All people aged 12 and over with diabetes (type 1 and 2) are offered eye screening appointments every 1-2 years.

What happens when you go to a diabetic retinopathy screening appointment please see the information provided by the Diabetic eye screening - What happens - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Why should I take part in eye screening?

Diabetic retinopathy is a common cause of sight loss in people of working age. Screening is an effective way of detecting diabetic retinopathy as early as possible. Diabetic retinopathy is caused when diabetes affects the small blood vessels in the retina of the eye. It may not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced and close to affecting a person’s sight and can cause complete blindness.

Where is screening carried out in Lincolnshire?

Screening is carried out in mobile units and hospitals across Lincolnshire. More information about diabetic retinopathy screening can be found on the NHS website.

Screening process in Lincolnshire

You’ll receive an appointment through the post every year inviting you for eye screening
If you think you are due to go for a screening test and have not had a letter, tell either,
your GP practice, or
your local eye screening service – check any old letters you may have or follow the link Find diabetic eye screening services - NHS (www.nhs.uk) to find contact details.

If you cannot attend the appointment, please re-arrange for a more convenient time.

Your GP will be kept up to date with your results and will write to you if you have not attended for screening.