Latest information for screening participants

What you need to know about screening at different alert levels.

Antenatal and newborn screening programmes are considered high priority and will continue to operate across all COVID-19 alert levels, but with some changes as appropriate to ensure that health staff, women and babies are kept safe.

If you are in an area at Alert level 4:

• Routine screening is paused for breast and cervical screening services, except for some required annual cervical screening. For those who have already been screened, the decision for diagnostic and treatment services will be made by the clinical teams at a local and regional level on a case-by-case basis.
  
  
• At present bowel screening will continue. You can still expect to receive your invitation to take part in bowel screening. You can continue to return your completed screening test, and this will be processed.  

If you are in an area at Alert level 2 & 3:

Screening programmes are operating, with appropriate safeguards in place to keep participants and staff safe. It is recommended that people with pre-existing medical conditions, check with their health professional as to whether it is safe to attend appointments.  

• Cervical and breast screening will continue for most women. The decision to screen those with existing medical conditions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
• Bowel screening will continue. You can still expect to receive your invitation to take part in bowel screening. You can continue to return your completed screening test, and this will be processed.

Further information on programmes will be updated at the following links:

Breast Screening

Cervical Screening

Bowel Screening

Information regarding Antenatal and Newborn Screening can be found here.

 Last updated: 7/09/2021 at 5pm