Added clarification that publication was previously published by Public Health England. Removed screening helpdesk information.

The guidance has been updated to include: • the addition of registered paramedics working in primary care to the list of healthcare professionals eligible for training to take cervical samples (Chapter 3, section 3.1) • a change to name of the 'interim' test to initial test to provide clarity on when in the training programme it should be completed (Chapter 5) • clarification that trainee sample takers must not include patient identifiable information (PID) on their records of samples taken documented in their workbook (Recording form and template examples) • clarified that it is the sample taker's responsibility to provide evidence of completed update training to the NHS cervical screening laboratory that holds the sample taker register for their locality (Chapter 3, section 3.23) • the addition of information on adapting theoretical content for a virtual platform (Chapter 4, section 4.5) • clarification of when to take a cervical sample after any clinical intervention (Topic 8, section 3.4) • the addition of information on taking a sample when an IUCD is in situ (Topic 8, section 3.4)

Update of guidance to include paramedics as registered sample takers

Updated following the implementation of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

First published.