Cervical screening

Cervical screening drop-in clinics being held across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 

Drop-in clinics are being held in GP practices to encourage more women to have their cervical screening, which is also known as the smear test.

Women (or anyone with a cervix) across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who are due, or overdue, for their test are invited to attend their local drop-in clinic, where they can have the test done without needing to make an appointment.

The first of the drop-in clinics have already been arranged in Leicester City, with more to follow across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Neighbouring GP practices are working together in groups, which means that patients may attend any of the clinics that cover their local area.

Many of them will take place on Saturdays and women can come along at a time that suits them. To encourage more people to participate, there will be a £100 prize draw for those who have their screening done at each of these clinics.

Please see the list of drop-in clinics further down this page. More clinics will be added as they are set up.

Why are we holding drop-in clinics?

Thousands of women in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are putting their lives at risk by not taking up the offer of cervical screening. The latest figures reveal that during 2018/19 more than 75,000 women in this area failed to attend the smear test, missing the opportunity to prevent cervical cancer from developing.

We want to make it really easy for women to have their screening test, which is quick and simple. A nurse takes a sample of cells from the cervix (the neck of the womb) with a small brush. They send the sample to a laboratory to be checked for abnormalities. This makes sure abnormal cells are spotted before they develop into cancer, which means they are easier to treat.

Cervical cancer affects around 3,000 women in the UK every year, making it the most common form of cancer for women under the age of 35. According to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, 75% of these cases can be prevented through testing.

During the very early stages, there are often not any symptoms and the best way for it to be detected is through screening. Prevention is the key to improving survival rates and cervical screening will save lives.

Who should have cervical screening?

Cervical screening is for women or anyone with a cervix.

Women aged 25 to 49 are invited for cervical screening every three years. After that, women are invited every five years until the age of 64.

It’s important to be screened, even if you are not sexually active. If you think that you are overdue for a screening test, it’s important to contact your GP practice. They can either make an appointment to have the test done, or you can attend a local drop-in clinic if there is one in your area.

Which drop-in clinic can I attend?

Please note that you may attend any of the clinics that cover your area, depending which GP practice you are registered with. Please see the list below.

More clinics are being added up to the end of April, so please check back at a later date if there is not yet a clinic listed for your area.