NHS screening and prevention services

Uploaded February 2026

Screening and vaccinations available on the NHS

Cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening

From the age of 50 to 74 you will be offered a bowel cancer screening test every 2 years from the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Service. This test will detect blood in your poo, which is a potential sign of bowel cancer. 

You will be sent a bowel cancer screening test kit to your home for you to complete and send back in the post. If you are eligible for a bowel cancer screening test and have not been sent one or are over 75 and would like to receive one, you can call the bowel cancer screening helpline: 0800 707 6060. 

If you do not want to receive a bowel cancer screening kit and want to be removed from the screening list, please call the bowel cancer screening helpline: 0800 707 6060. If you change your mind you can call the helpline at any time and be added back on to the list. 

For more information about bowel cancer screening, please visit the bowel cancer screening website: Bowel cancer screening - NHS.

If you are under 50 and are concerned that you are showing signs of bowel cancer, contact your GP practice. 

Lung cancer screening

If you are between the ages of 55 and 74 and currently smoke or have smoked in the past you will be invited for a lung health check. These are currently being rolled out across the UK, with Surrey being one of the first areas in the UK to trial this screening. By 2029 it is hoped that lung cancer screening will be available to everyone. 

To be eligible for lung cancer screening you need to: 

• Live in an area where they are currently being offered
• Be aged 55-74
• Be registered with a GP
• Currently smoke or have smoked in the past.

If you are eligible your GP will write to you to invite you to book in for screening. For more information about lung cancer screening and what to expect, please visit the NHS website: Lung cancer screening - NHS.

If you are not eligible for a lung cancer screening test, or if they are not currently available in your area and are concerned that you are showing signs of Lung cancer, please contact your GP practice as soon as possible. 

If you currently smoke and are interested in stopping or cutting down you can access information, advice and support through One You Surrey. For more information about the service please visit their website: One You Surrey | Free Health & Wellbeing Service or call 01737 652168.

Cervical screening

Cervical screening, previously known as a smear test, is offered to women or people with a cervix. You will be invited for your first cervical screening when you turn 25 and then every 3 years until you turn 50. Between the ages of 50 and 64 you will be invited for a cervical screening every 5 years. 

Cervical screening is not to screen for cancer, but to check for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause abnormal cell changes in your cervix. 

When you are due a cervical screening you will receive a letter from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme inviting you to book an appointment.  However, if you are not currently registered with a GP practice you can still access cervical screening through some sexual health clinics. To find local sexual health clinics which offer cervical screening, please visit the Healthy Surrey website: Sexual health clinics in Surrey | Healthy Surrey

For more information about cervical screening please visit the NHS website: What is cervical screening? - NHS or The Eve Appeal: We are the leading gynaecological cancers charity - The Eve Appeal.

If you are concerned that you are experiencing symptoms of cervical cancer please contact your GP practice as soon as possible. 

Breast screening (mammogram) 

If you are female or were assigned female at birth, between the ages of 50 and 70 you will be invited to attend a breast screening (also known as a mammogram) every 3 years. This is to detect any signs of breast cancer. 

You will be automatically invited by your local breast screening service when you turn 50. If you are a trans man, or non-binary, you may be automatically invited, or you may need to contact your GP practice or your local breast cancer screening service to book an appointment. You can find your local breast cancer screening service on the NHS website: Find breast screening services - NHS.

If you are over 71 and still want to attend a breast screening you can contact your local breast cancer screening service to book in an appointment. 

For more information about breast screening and what happens during your appointment, please visit the NHS website:  Breast screening (mammogram) - NHS. 

If you are under 50, are male, or are between screenings and are concerned that you are experience symptoms of Breast cancer in women or Breast cancer in men, please contact your GP practice.

NHS Health Checks

NHS Health Checks - Ages 40 to 74

When you turn 40 you will be entitled to a free NHS Health Check. This is designed to detect early signs of cardiovascular as well as other chronic health conditions that can be prevented. You should receive an invite from your GP or local authority every 5 years.

If you have any of the following pre-existing conditions you are not eligible for an NHS Health Check; this is because you will need monitoring based on your specific condition(s): 

• Heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Atrial fibrillation
• Transient ischemic attack
• Inherited high cholesterol
• Heart failure
• Peripheral arterial disease
• Stroke
• Prescribed medications such as statins
• If you have accessed an NHS Health Check in the past and been told that your risk of developing a cardiac condition is above 20%.

For more information about what will happen during an NHS Health Check and to find out where you can have it, please visit the Healthy Surrey website: Free Health checks | Healthy Surrey or the NHS Health Check website: NHS Health Check - NHS.

NHS health checks for people with a serious mental health condition

If you are aged 18 or over and have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or psychosis, you should be invited to an annual health check by your GP. If you do not receive a letter from your GP inviting you to a screening, you can contact them or ask a family member or friend to contact them on your behalf. 

During your health check a nurse or a doctor will do a physical check up, speak to you about any long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes and talk to you about your mental health and any medications you may be taking. 

For more information about NHS Health checks for people with a serious mental health condition, please visit the NHS Annual health Check Website: Annual health check for people with severe mental health conditions - NHS

NHS health checks for people with a learning disability

If you are aged 14 or over and are registered with your GP as having a learning disability you will be invited to have an annual health check. 

During your health check a doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your health, do a physical check-up and speak to you about any health conditions you may have such as asthma. 

For more information about NHS health checks for people with a learning disability, please visit the NHS annual health checks website: Learning disabilities - Annual health checks - NHS or Mencap: Annual Health Checks | Mencap. Mencap also have information about annual health checks in easy read: Annual Health Checks | Mencap | Easy Read.