Cervical screening: support for people who find it hard to attend
Guidance to support people who find it hard to attend cervical screening due to a mental health condition, previous traumatic experience or sexual and/or domestic abuse.
Applies to England
Documents
Cervical screening: extra support checklist
MS Word Document, 18.2 KB
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Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.ukengland.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
This information is for people who find it difficult to attend cervical screening because of:
- a mental health condition
- previous traumatic experiences
- sexual and/or domestic abuse
Local screening providers should direct people who feel anxious about attending cervical screening for one of the above reasons to this information. Individuals can then use this information to help decide whether to attend, and to plan for their screening appointment.
People can also find it hard to attend cervical screening for a number of other reasons. Separate national information and guidance to reduce barriers to screening is available for:
- trans and non-binary people
- carers
- people with severe mental illness
- people with a learning disability
- people in secure settings
This publication is adapted from a leaflet developed by Dr Frederique Lamontagne-Godwin, which was based on research with users of mental health services. This work was supported by:
- Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
- NHS Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust
- Public Health England
- University of Surrey
- University of West London
- West London NHS Trust
We are grateful to all the patients, service user groups, professionals and frontline staff who helped in the making of that leaflet.
Contact the PHE Screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.
Updates to this page
Published 14 May 2021
Last updated 151 MarchApril 2024
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Update history
2025-04-01 16:32
Made changes to reflect the introduction of the opt-in service for cervical screening for trans men and non-binary people.
2024-03-15 17:07
The following changes have been made to the HTML attachment: • Before booking your appointment’: Additional section added to focus on the steps the participant can take to support them during their cervical screening appointment. For example: Making an appointment prior to screening to discuss any concerns, a double length appointment to allow more time.• ‘After the test’: Timeframe for receiving results has been removed due to causing anxiety if results are delayed. Wording changed to reflect that results will be sent via the post and to signpost the individual to where they can access their result if they have not received their letter. • ‘Getting support’: Links to National FGM Support Clinics added in response to feedback from Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence ProgrammeThe checklist has also been updated to include additional comments.
Cervical screening: extra support checklist
MS Word Document, 18.2 KB
This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.ukengland.contactus@nhs.net. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
This information is for people who find it difficult to attend cervical screening because of:
- a mental health condition
- previous traumatic experiences
- sexual and/or domestic abuse
Local screening providers should direct people who feel anxious about attending cervical screening for one of the above reasons to this information. Individuals can then use this information to help decide whether to attend, and to plan for their screening appointment.
People can also find it hard to attend cervical screening for a number of other reasons. Separate national information and guidance to reduce barriers to screening is available for:
- trans and non-binary people
- carers
- people with severe mental illness
- people with a learning disability
- people in secure settings
This publication is adapted from a leaflet developed by Dr Frederique Lamontagne-Godwin, which was based on research with users of mental health services. This work was supported by:
- Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
- NHS Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust
- Public Health England
- University of Surrey
- University of West London
- West London NHS Trust
We are grateful to all the patients, service user groups, professionals and frontline staff who helped in the making of that leaflet.
Contact the PHE Screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.
Updates to this page
Published 14 May 2021
Last updated 151 MarchApril 2024
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-04-01 16:32
Made changes to reflect the introduction of the opt-in service for cervical screening for trans men and non-binary people.
2024-03-15 17:07
The following changes have been made to the HTML attachment: • Before booking your appointment’: Additional section added to focus on the steps the participant can take to support them during their cervical screening appointment. For example: Making an appointment prior to screening to discuss any concerns, a double length appointment to allow more time.• ‘After the test’: Timeframe for receiving results has been removed due to causing anxiety if results are delayed. Wording changed to reflect that results will be sent via the post and to signpost the individual to where they can access their result if they have not received their letter. • ‘Getting support’: Links to National FGM Support Clinics added in response to feedback from Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence ProgrammeThe checklist has also been updated to include additional comments.
Details
This information is for people who find it difficult to attend cervical screening because of:
- a mental health condition
- previous traumatic experiences
- sexual and/or domestic abuse
Local screening providers should direct people who feel anxious about attending cervical screening for one of the above reasons to this information. Individuals can then use this information to help decide whether to attend, and to plan for their screening appointment.
People can also find it hard to attend cervical screening for a number of other reasons. Separate national information and guidance to reduce barriers to screening is available for:
- trans and non-binary people
- carers
- people with severe mental illness
- people with a learning disability
- people in secure settings
This publication is adapted from a leaflet developed by Dr Frederique Lamontagne-Godwin, which was based on research with users of mental health services. This work was supported by:
- Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
- NHS Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust
- Public Health England
- University of Surrey
- University of West London
- West London NHS Trust
We are grateful to all the patients, service user groups, professionals and frontline staff who helped in the making of that leaflet.
Contact the PHE Screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-04-01 16:32
Made changes to reflect the introduction of the opt-in service for cervical screening for trans men and non-binary people.
2024-03-15 17:07
The following changes have been made to the HTML attachment: • Before booking your appointment’: Additional section added to focus on the steps the participant can take to support them during their cervical screening appointment. For example: Making an appointment prior to screening to discuss any concerns, a double length appointment to allow more time.• ‘After the test’: Timeframe for receiving results has been removed due to causing anxiety if results are delayed. Wording changed to reflect that results will be sent via the post and to signpost the individual to where they can access their result if they have not received their letter. • ‘Getting support’: Links to National FGM Support Clinics added in response to feedback from Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence ProgrammeThe checklist has also been updated to include additional comments.