Cervical Cancer screening and some NHS Scotland national screening programmes which were paused in March because of coronavirus are set to resume safely, carefully and in a series of stages.
As of Monday 29 June, anyone who had been invited for cervical screening before the pause and was yet to make an appointment or had their appointment cancelled is encouraged to contact their GP practice to make an appointment.
Appointment invitations and reminders will be posted from mid-July, with invitations sent first to those who receive more frequent (non-routine) cervical screening appointments. Routine screening will recommence once NHS Scotland has caught up with non-routine appointments affected by the pause.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman MSP said:
“Pausing the adult national screening programmes was one of a series of difficult decisions we have had to make in responding to the impact of COVID-19. The programmes were temporarily paused on 30 March in order to reduce the risk of patients becoming infected with the virus, to enable physical distancing and minimise the impact on essential NHS services as they responded to COVID-19.
“Our plans to resume the screening programmes are based on expert clinical advice and the recommendations of the Scottish Screening Committee. They have been discussed and agreed with Health Board Chief Executives as part of the planned safe and incremental remobilisation of NHS Scotland.
“The safety of patients and staff will continue to be our priority as the screening programmes restart and expand. I want to reassure you that we are taking these precautions so that we can safely offer the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”
Chief Executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, Robert Music, said:
“It’s great that cervical screening in Scotland is beginning to resume. We have seen a growing level of anxiety and confusion due to cancelled appointments, so we are pleased that access to this lifesaving test is restarting.
“Cervical screening is not always easy, and many people have new questions and concerns about the test and how it all works now. We don’t want COVID-19 to make cervical screening harder, so do reach out to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust if you want support or more information before attending.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“While temporarily closing down any non-emergency services due to COVID-19 was essential, foregoing screening programmes was not something anyone had wanted to do.
“These free screening programmes were put in place for a reason and hopefully everyone will take up their invitation now that they are able to resume.”
Health boards are also starting to resume bowel screening colonoscopies and the breast screening service is assisting acute services to prioritise high risk familial clinics and post treatment surveillance screening, while preparing for the resumption of the national breast screening programme.
More information on the national screening programme is available on NHS Inform.
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