Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests to different sections of the population.
The aim is to offer screening to the people who are most likely to benefit from it. For example, some screening tests are only offered to newborn babies, while others such as breast screening and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening are only offered to older people.
The screening tests offered in pregnancy are:
Newborn babies are offered:
From the age of 12, all people with diabetes are offered regular diabetic eye screening to check for early signs of diabetic retinopathy.
Cervical screening is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 every 5 years to check the health of cells in the cervix.
Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to 70 to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women over 70 can self refer.
Everyone aged 50 to 74 is offered a bowel cancer screening home test kit every 2 years.If you're 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.
Lung health checks to find out how well your lungs are working, and check for cancer, are available in some parts of England.If you're aged 55 to 74 and have ever smoked, you may be contacted by your GP or a local NHS service to take part in lung cancer screening.
AAA screening is offered to men when they turn 65 to detect abdominal aortic aneurysms (a dangerous swelling in the aorta). Men over 65 can self-refer.
More information can be found by following this link: www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-screening/
