Screening

There are 2 types of screening for bowel cancer. A home testing kit is offered to men and women aged 60 to 74. Bowel scope screening uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end to look at the large bowel. It is offered to men and women at the age of 55 in some parts of England.

Types of Bowel cancer: www.nhs.uk/bowel-cancer-screening

Home testing kit: www.nhs.uk/home-test

Website: www.nhs.uk/bowel-cancer-screening/bowel-scope-screening

Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women are sent their initial screening invitations sometime between their 50th and before their 53rd birthday.

Patients between the ages of 50 -70 will receive a screening invitation letter directly from the hub with a timed appointment, at the point that they are due for a screen (every 3 years)

Patients are able to book, change or cancel their appointment either online - https://www.london-breastscreening.org.uk/ChangeAppFormW2.aspx.

Alternatively they can call the screening office on 020 3758 2024 (Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm and Sundays 8am to 4pm (Excluding bank holidays) or send an email to RF-TR.LondonBreastScreeningHub@nhs.net for alternative booking availability/ queries.

Women over 70 can self-refer. 

Website: NHS: London Breast Screening Service

Poster: Breast Screening Patient Pathway. 

Cervical screening is offered to women aged 25-64 to check the health of
cells in the cervix. It is offered every 3 years for those aged 26 to 49, and
every 5 years from the ages of 50 to 64.

Website: www.nhs.uk/cervical-screening

From the age of 12, all people with diabetes are offered an annual diabetic eye test
to check for early signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Website: www.nhs.uk/diabetic-eye-screening

Newborn babies are offered:

• a physical examination, which includes the eyes, heart, hips and testes
• a hearing test
• a blood spot test to check if the baby has any of 9 rare conditions

Pregnant women are offered the following types of screening:

• Screening for infectious diseases (hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis)
• Screening for Down’s syndrome, Patau’s syndrome and Edwards’ syndrome
• Screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia
• Screening for physical abnormalities (mid-pregnancy scan)