Patient Screening

AAA screening helps detect swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. If an aneurysm becomes too large, it can burst and cause life-threatening bleeding.

Screening aims to find aneurysms early, so they can be monitored or treated before they become dangerous.

AAA screening is offered once to all men in the year they turn 65.

• If you are aged 65 or over and have not been screened before, you can arrange an appointment by calling the AAA Screening Programme on 01782 674356 (Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent area)
• Women, trans men, and non-binary people assigned female at birth are not routinely invited, as AAA is much less common in these groups. However, anyone aged 65 or over can self-refer if they wish to be screened

• Around 1 in 90 men aged 65 in England have an abdominal aortic aneurysm
• AAA often has no symptoms, so screening is the only way to detect it early
• Detecting an aneurysm before it bursts can save your life — treatment is much safer when planned in advance

• The test is quick, painless, and usually takes about 10 minutes
• A simple ultrasound scan is used to check the size of your aorta
• You’ll get your results straight away, and if an aneurysm is found, you’ll be invited for regular monitoring or treatment if needed

If you’re a man aged 65 or older and haven’t had this check, call the AAA Screening Programme on 01782 674356 to arrange an appointment.

For more information, visit the Staffordshire & South Cheshire AAA Programme

Bowel cancer screening helps find cancer early, when treatment is most effective. It can also detect small growths (polyps) that may develop into cancer if left untreated.

If you live in England, are registered with a GP, and are aged 50 to 74, you’ll automatically be invited every 2 years to take part using a simple home test kit (FIT).

If you’re 75 or older, you won’t receive automatic kits, but you can still take part every 2 years by calling the free helpline on 0800 707 6060.

If you’re under 50 or over 74 and have symptoms such as unexplained bleeding or changes in your bowel habits, don’t wait for a screening invite—please contact your GP.

How it works

• The test is quick and easy to do at home
• You collect a small sample of poo and send it to the lab in a prepaid envelope
• If the test finds anything unusual, you’ll be invited for further checks, usually a colonoscopy

Why screening matters

• Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK
• Around 43,000 people are diagnosed each year
• Screening saves lives—it’s estimated to prevent around 2,500 deaths every year

If you’ve received a kit, please complete it and post it back as soon as possible using the prepaid envelope. If you’ve lost your kit or haven’t received one, call 0800 707 6060 to request a replacement or to join the programme if you’re over 75.

For more information, visit NHS Bowel Cancer Screening

Breast screening (mammogram) helps detect breast cancer early when it’s too small to see or feel. Finding cancer early gives the best chance of successful treatment.

Breast screening is offered every 3 years to people aged 50 to 71 who are registered as female with a GP. You’ll receive your first invitation between your 50th and 53rd birthday.

If you’re over 71, you won’t be invited automatically, but you can still request screening every 3 years by contacting your local breast screening service on 01785 230861

Why screening matters

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 56,000 people diagnosed each year
• Around 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime
• Screening saves lives by finding cancers early, often before symptoms appear

You’ll be invited by letter when you’re due for screening. If you think you’ve missed an appointment or you require some addition support during your appointment or if you’re over 71,please call Breast Imaging on 01785 230861 to arrange your own appointment.

Additional information

• If you now identify as male but still have breast tissue, you are still eligible for screening. Please contact the surgery or your local screening service to make sure you continue to receive invitations
• If you’ve had a double mastectomy (both breasts removed), you no longer need breast screening, as all breast tissue has been removed. If you’ve had a single mastectomy, you’ll continue to be invited to screen the remaining breast

For more information, visit NHS Breast Screening

Cervical screening helps prevent cancer by checking for high-risk HPV, which can cause cell changes in the cervix. It’s not a test for cancer but can find early signs before they become serious.

Cervical screening is offered to everyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 and from July 2025, all eligible patients in England will move to a recall of every 5 years if no high-risk HPV is found.

You’ll get your first invite around your 25th birthday and then automatically when your next test is due. Screening usually stops after age 65 unless you haven’t been screened recently or had an abnormal result.

If you’ve had an invitation, think you’re overdue, please contact the surgery who will check your medical record and arrange an appointment if applicable.

Cervical screening is quick, safe, and done by trained nurses. Most results are normal, but regular screening is the best way to protect yourself. For more information, visit the NHS website

Additional information

If you are a trans man or non-binary person with a cervix, you are still eligible for screening. If your GP record lists your gender as male, please let us know so we can make sure you continue to receive invitations.

People aged 55 to 74 who currently smoke or have smoked in the past may be invited for a Lung Health Check. This may include a quick CT scan of the lungs to help detect problems early, often before symptoms appear. Finding lung cancer early makes treatment more effective and can save lives.

Read the full Lung Cancer Screening booklet below for more details.