Scottish Government pause National Screening programmes

Due to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation the Scottish Government is to temporarily pause a number of national screening programmes so that healthcare staff can be re-allocated to support other essential services, including COVID-19 laboratory testing and covering for colleagues who are unwell or self-isolating.

The paused programmes are as follows:　

•　　　　　　　　　　 Breast Screening (mammograms)

•　　　　　　　　　　 Cervical Screening (smear tests)

•　　　　　　　　　　 Bowel Screening (home test kits)

•　　　　　　　　　　 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening (ultrasound of abdomen)

•　　　　　　　　　　 Diabetic Retinopathy (Eye) Screening (images taken of the eye).

This means no additional patients will be invited for screening until further notice. Results for those who have recently been screened or who have completed and returned home test kits will continue to be processed and patients will be contacted shortly.

Pregnancy and Newborn Screening Programmes, including tests offered during pregnancy and just after birth, will continue where logistically practical.

More information can be found on the NHS Inform website www.nhsinform.scot/screening

and

https://www.gov.scot/news/health-screening-programmes-paused/