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PHE Screening helpdesk

If you work in primary care, wed really like to hear from you about whether this page is useful and how we could improve it. Please contact the PHE Screening helpdesk with your suggestions.

Population screening explained

Population screening is the process of identifying healthy people who may have an increased chance of a disease or condition, enabling early treatment.

It is not intended for people who already have symptoms of a disease or condition.

What is screening? is a 2-minute video explaining the basics of screening.

Population screening in England

There are 11 population screening programmes in England. GPs and practice staff can help reduce screening inequalities by making people aware of the NHS screening programmes and supporting them to make informed choices about screening.

There are 5 NHS young person and adult (YPA) screening programmes. These are the:

• NHS abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening programme
• NHS bowel cancer screening programme (BCSP)
• NHS breast screening programmes (BSP)
• NHS cervical screening programme (CSP)
• NHS diabetic eye screening (DES) programme

There is also a risk management programme for prostate cancer, but currently no population screening programme.

There are 6 NHS antenatal and newborn (ANNB) screening programmes. These are the:

• NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP)
• NHS infectious diseases in pregnancy screening (IDPS) programme
• NHS newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) screening programme
• NHS newborn blood spot (NBS) screening programme
• NHS newborn hearing screening programme (NHSP)
• NHS sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening programme

Different ANNB screening tests are offered at different times during pregnancy and after the baby is born. Every year about 650,000 pregnant women and newborn babies are offered ANNB screening.

Information for people invited for screening

PHE produces information on behalf of the NHS to allow people to make informed choices about screening tests offered to them. This includes information on:

• abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
• bowel cancer screening
• breast screening
• cervical screening
• diabetic eye screening (DES)
• antenatal and newborn (ANNB) screening

Some of this information is available in other languages, audio and large print formats.

We have also produced:

• easy read resources for people who have a learning disability or who struggle with written English
• information for transgender (trans) and non-binary people

Lifetime screening pathways

There are 2 animations summarising the:

• female lifetime screening pathway
• male lifetime screening pathway

ANNB screening animations

We have published animations explaining the different screening tests for pregnant women and newborn babies. As well as a summary animation there are specific animations for:

• infectious diseases in pregnancy screening
• sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening
• screening for Downs syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Pataus syndrome
• the 20 week screening scan
• the newborn and infant physical examination
• newborn hearing screening
• newborn blood spot screening

Adding or removing patients from screening lists

We provide guidance for people wishing to opt out of receiving invitations to screening.

Patients eligible for screening who wish to be reinstated to screening invitation lists, or check they are on the lists, should contact the relevant screening programmes (see contacts section below).

Screening results and appointments

The information below details how to fo

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