If you have any concerns you’d like to discuss please speak to a doctor.
Breast Screening
The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.
Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.
The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50. If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with your GP.
Cervical Screening
Why the NHS offers cervical screening
We offer cervical screening to check the health of your cervix
and help prevent cervical cancer. We look for high-risk human
papillomavirus (HPV). This is because it can cause abnormal changes
that may lead to cervical cancer.
Finding and treating any changes early can prevent most cases of
cervical cancer. Cervical cancer mostly affects women and people
who have a cervix under the age of 45, but abnormal changes can
happen at any age.
Cervical screening saves thousands of lives each year in the UK.
Regular cervical screening is important. You’re still at risk of cervical
cancer even if you:
have had the HPV vaccine
have only had 1 sexual partner
haven’t had penetrative sex
have had the same partner, or have not had sex, for a long time
are a lesbian or bisexual
are a trans man or a non-binary person with a cervix
have had a subtotal (partial) hysterectomy that did not remove
your cervix.
If you’ve had a total hysterectomy, you do not have a womb or cervix.
This means you do not need cervical screening.
Who we invite for cervical screening
We routinely invite women aged 25 to 64 every 5 years. Most cervical
cancers develop between these ages.
Your GP surgery gives us your contact information. Please make sure
they have the correct details, including your:
name
date of birth
address
mobile number
email address.
Your invitation will give you information about booking cervical
screening. You can book as soon as you’re invited.
Trans men and non-binary people with a cervix are also eligible
for cervical screening. How you’re invited will depend on how your
gender is recorded in your GP patient record:
If you’re listed as female, you’ll receive invitations automatically.
If not, you can ‘opt in’ to receive routine invitations. You can do
this by contacting a cervical screening provider, such as your GP, a
sexual health clinic or a transgender health clinic.
For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.
Guide to NHS cervical screening July 2025 
Emergency Contraception
If you’ve forgotten to take your pill, your condom split or you’ve had unprotected sex and you don’t wish to be pregnant we would advise emergency contraception. The sooner you take it the better; ideally within 3 days of unprotected sex but sometimes up to 5 days after ovulation.
Emergency contraception is available free even if you’re under 16 from
Contraception and Sexual Health Services
Some GPs (family doctors) –phone for an emergency appointment
Some Pharmacies (some will charge)
Some Urgent care centres
If you’ve had unprotected sex or your condom failed, it is also really important to consider your risk for sexually transmitted infections and to think about your long-term contraception needs.
Please attend the local Sexual Health/Contraceptive Clinics.
Emergency contraception is available as a tablet or a ‘coil’ (Intrauterine Device – IUD). The IUD is more effective. The healthcare professional you see will be able to advise you, depending on your preference, risk or pregnancy, medical conditions, medication and when your last period was.
More information about your choices is available from: