Changes To The NHS Cervical Screening Programme

From this month (September 2025), the NHS plans to start sending normal results from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, digitally utilising the NHS App. Normal results are those where the patient is put back into recall within the programme and don’t require referral to colposcopy.

This change follows the successful rollout of digital invitations and reminders in June 2025, where since the launch, 9 out of every 10 invitations are being sent digitally, with the remainder being sent by post. 

Those who have a normal test result will be notified of this by an NHS App message. It will appear as an NHS App notification, and if someone doesn’t have notifications switched on for the NHS App, they may also receive an SMS message to remind them to check the NHS App.

If the NHS App message isn’t read within 72 hours of delivery or if the patient doesn’t have the NHS App, a letter will be sent as a failsafe.

Abnormal result letters (those that involve referral to colposcopy) will continue for the time being to be delivered by post. However, we are aware that some patients may see their cervical screening test result (either normal or abnormal) via the NHS App under GP Health Records or they may receive a colposcopy appointment via the NHS App before they receive their formal communications. This is because the NHS App is linked to the results being sent from the screening laboratory to the GP practice. If the patient has signed up to access their medical records, all test results would be accessible to the patient.

For further information, please contact: england.digitalscreening@nhs.net.