National Screening Services

There are many screening services provided by the NHS to promote early detection of health conditions. Many of these services are not delivered in practice but the information below will inform you how you can access them.

BREAST SCREENING
All females aged 50 years and over will be automatically invited to book a breast screening appointment. This invitation will come by letter to your home and has been sent by NHS England. Please call the number on your letter to book the appointment.
Many clinics are held at the local hospitals in Lincoln, Grantham and Boston, however, there are community clinics available in the mobile unit which travels across the county.
This service involves mammogram imaging and appointments are for approximately 15-20 minutes.

It is advised that you book an appointment every 3 years. For more information please access this link.

ABNORMAL AORTIC ANEURYSM (AAA) SCREENING.
All males will be invited in the year they turn 65. The invitation will come through the post from NHS England, however men over the age of 65 who have not utilised this screening service can do so by calling 01205 445801 or emailing ulth.aaascreening@nhs.net  Your appointment will be at one of the local hospitals of Lincoln, Grantham or Boston as well as further afield.

This appointment will be for an  ultrasound and the appointments will usually take between 10-15 minutes.
It is advised that you take up this offer as mostly there are no symptoms for an aneurysm but if left to get bigger they can burst with life threatening repercussions.

CERVICAL SCREENING
All females with a uterus will be offered a screening appointment in practice every 5 years once you have turned 25. Cervical screening (often called smears) are recommended for the early detection of cancerous cells in your uterus.
Appointments are available during the core week but also occasional Saturday clinics are made available to support capacity and access ability. Please place a request on AccuX or call a member o the Patient Navigation team to book your appointment.

Additional information can be found on the NHS Website

SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SCREENING
Sexual health is managed by Greater Lincolnshire Integrated Sexual Health Services.
Their services range from contraception access, through advice guidance and support into screening and testing services.
Their website (using the above link) has information services and you can call them on 01522 309309.

ANNUAL HEALTH CHECKS
The practice offers annual health checks for all patients aged 40 to 74 who do not have certain pre-existing vascular conditions. Appointments are booked with a practice health care assistant. Contact us via Accurx or by calling the patient navigation team on 01526 832204 to book your health check.

BOWEL SCREENING
Offered to men and women aged between 60 and 74 years of age. Patients are automatically invited via letter from NHS England. This letter will come to your home and the service is completed by post. They will send a testing kit with instructions and samples are returned via pre-paid postage upon completion.
The service is offered every 2 years within the eligible age brackets

DIABETIC EYE SCREENING
Delivered by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and is available to patients aged 12 and over with a diagnosis of diabetes. You can be referred for this via your GP and you will receive a letter to your home with an appointment date and time. They will also provide you with contact details for appointment amendments.
Diabetic Retinopathy screening is advised to prevent sight impairment or loss as individuals with diabetes are more at risk from diabetic retinopathy.

LUNG CANCER SCREENING
For patients aged 55 – 74 who smoke or who have previously smoked. You are eligible for a lung screening and health check.
You will have a telephone appointment with a nurse to discuss your lung health and history, at that appointment you may be referred for lung scan. This screening service is advised as it often helps diagnose at an early stage, increasing the chances of successful treatment.