Leaflet Details
| Title | Reviewing Your Cervical Screening History |
| Department | Gynaecology |
| Author(s) | Jennifer Crouch |
| Review Date | November 2026 |
| Next Review | October 2028 |
| Download | A5 Booklet PDF |
| Accessibility Options | Click on the Recite Me button to show our accessibility resources |
Patient Information
Why are we reviewing your screening history?
You may have many questions after being diagnosed with cervical cancer. You may be worried about your treatment and what will happen next. We are here to support you.
You may wonder why you developed cervical cancer, especially if you have had cervical screening tests (sometimes called smear tests). This leaflet explains why we review your screening history and what happens next.
Cervical screening reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer. It looks for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. Finding HPV can help the NHS offer follow-up tests or treatment when needed.
The NHS cervical screening programme has several steps. These include taking a sample, testing it for HPV and, when needed, checking cells for changes. Sometimes a review finds that a step may not have happened as expected. The review helps us understand what happened and learn how the screening programme can be improved.
Each review looks at one person's screening history. The aim is to check whether anything could or should have been done differently. A review does not mean that a mistake has definitely happened.
How will my cervical screening history be reviewed?
We will look at records linked to your NHS cervical screening history from the last 10 years. These may include invitation letters, screening tests and results, and relevant medical notes about your screening.
Some screening samples are tested for HPV first. If HPV is found, the sample may also be checked under a microscope for cell changes. These checks are called cytology.
Some samples are tested for HPV only and are not put onto a slide for a microscope check. These samples are not kept in the same way, so they cannot be reviewed for cell changes. Your care team can explain what this means for your review.
What might the review find?
In many cases, the review will show that the right steps were followed and that you received the care you needed.
Sometimes, the review may find that one or more steps did not happen as expected. This can help us see where changes may be needed to improve the screening programme.
The review cannot always answer every question. Your healthcare team can talk with you about what the review found and what it means for you.
What happens next?
Please complete the review results response form and return it to us. You can also call the colposcopy coordinator using the number in the useful contacts section to tell us how you would like to receive your results.
When the review is complete, we will send a copy to the doctors involved in your care.
If you would like to know the results, we will arrange for a hospital doctor to meet with you and explain them.
We understand this may be a difficult time. It is your choice whether you would like to receive your review results. If you do not want to receive them now, you can change your mind at any time. Contact your hospital doctor or GP, and they can arrange for you to receive the results.
We cannot share your review results with family members or other people unless you give us permission.
Useful information
- https://www.nhs.uk
- https://www.bsccp.org.uk/
- https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/nhs-screening/
- https://eveappeal.org.uk
- https://www.macmillan.org.uk
Useful contacts
Macmillan CNS - Gynaecological Oncology:
01932 726856
Colposcopy Coordinator: 01932 722200
Colposcopy Department, St Peter’s Hospital: Blanche Heriot Unit, Abbey Wing, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 0PZ
