NHS Cervical Screening Programme

From September, the NHS plans to start sending digital results from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, utilising the NHS App.

In September, those who have a negative test result will be notified of this by an NHS App message. It will also appear as an NHS App notification. If the NHS App message isn’t read within 72 hours, a letter will be sent as a failsafe.

Abnormal result letters will continue, for the time being, to be sent by post.

This change follows the successful rollout of digital invitations and reminders in June 2025. Since the launch, 9 out of every 10 invitations are being sent digitally, with the remainder being sent by post.

Focus on Extended Cervical Screening Intervals - Rationale

HPV primary screening has been fully implemented in England since December 2019. This is a more sensitive and accurate test than the previous ‘smear’ test, which only looked for cervical cell changes.

HPV testing is the best way to find out at an early stage who is at higher risk of developing the cervical cell changes that over time could potentially lead to cervical cancer if left untreated.

This enables us to offer a more personalised approach to cervical cancer prevention based on an individual’s risk. 

• Digital invitations and reminder communications are now being issued via the NHS App.
• If a digital invitation / reminder is not possible or is not opened, a letter will be posted.
• Please download the NHS app and enable notifications.

What is changing?

For cervical screening participants aged 25 – 49 years who have a routine screening sample taken on or after 1st July 2025:

• Patients who test negative for HPV will be recalled in 5 years.
• Patients who test negative for HPV but had a positive HPV result within the last 5 years that has not already been followed by a negative test will be recalled for screening in 3 years. This is because those with recent evidence of an HPV positive result have a higher chance of this happening again and so will not move to a 5- year interval straight away.

Are the changes safe?

Studies have shown that if a person tests negative for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), they are extremely unlikely to go on to develop cervical cancer within the next 10 years. A study in England, published by King’s College London, showed that 5-year screening intervals are as safe as 3-year intervals; the same number of cancers will be prevented, and less frequent cervical screening tests are needed.

What is not changing?

• Cervical screening pathway for patients who test positive for hrHPV.
• Cervical screening pathway for patients aged 50 – 64 years. Patients will continue to be invited every 5 years.
• HIV positive individuals will continue to be screened every year.
• Cervical screening pathway for patients aged 25 – 49 years and who have never had an HPV test. Patients will continue to be invited every 3 years.
• Cervical screening pathway for patients aged 25 - 49 years whose last screening test was part of an approved self-sampling evaluation and tested negative for HPV will remain on a 3-year recall interval until routine intervals in relation to self-sampling as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme are agreed. 

FAQs

Further FAQs can be found on the NHS website.

So, will everyone aged 25-49 move to a 5-year screening if they test negative after 1 July?

No, not everyone. If your test result is negative but your last test (taken within the last 5 years) showed an HPV positive result, you will still be invited for screening in 3 years time so that we can continue to monitor your HPV status. If you test negative for HPV at that next test, then you’ll move to 5-year screening.

What happens if I test positive for HPV?

It’s important to remember that having HPV does not mean that you have or will develop cervical cancer. It is a common virus that most people will have at some point in their life without knowing, which usually goes away on its own. If HPV is found in your sample and there are no cell changes, you are invited for screening again in 1 year. If cell changes are found alongside HPV, you are referred directly to a hospital clinic for a colposcopy to check the cervix more closely. Further follow up and treatment will depend on the colposcopy findings.

I’m currently having treatment following a colposcopy, will I be put on 5- yearly screening?

Not immediately. You will be followed up according to the reason for your treatment. Once this is completed successfully you will move to 5 yearly screening. 

Published: Aug 26, 2025