Opting out of screening
Updated 29 March 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/opting-out-of-the-nhs-population-screening-programmes/opting-out-of-screening
It is your choice whether or not to have screening. If you decide that screening is not for you and you don’t want any more invitations, you can opt out. Withdrawing yourself means you will not get invited for that type of screening in the future.
Opting out is something to think through very carefully. It could mean that if you have the condition being screened for in the future, early signs might be missed. You may want to discuss any questions or concerns with your GP or someone from the local screening programme.
Information about how screening data is collected and handled safely and securely is available. More information about all the NHS screening programmes can be found on the NHS website.
Instructions about how to opt out of different screening types are provided below. If you wish to opt out of more than one type of screening, you will need to follow the instructions for each type separately.
1. Antenatal and newborn screening programmes
The antenatal and newborn screening programmes are not included in this guidance. This is because screening is only offered for these programmes once per pregnancy and therefore you can just decline the invitation when it is made.
2. Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
In order to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), you must agree to the storage of information about you and your visit to the screening clinic on the national AAA screening IT system.
You can ask for your information to be removed from the system if you do not wish to take up the offer of screening. Find contact details for your local programme on the NHS website.
3. Bowel cancer screening
Call the programme helpline on 0800 707 60 60 and ask that all current and future invitations for screening are stopped. Calls to the helpline are free from UK landlines and mobiles.
You may be asked to put your request in writing so that there is a record of your decision. This helps to ensure that no one is removed from the screening programme by accident or for the wrong reasons.
More information about consent in the cancer screening programmes is available.
4. Breast screening
The most direct way to opt out of breast screening is to contact your GP or the main local breast screening unit. They will be able to remove your name from the screening invitation list. You can find the contact details of your local unit on the NHS website.
You may be asked to put your request in writing so that there is a record of your decision. This helps to ensure that no one is removed from the screening programme by accident or for the wrong reasons.
More information about opting out of breast screening is available.
5. Cervical screening
If you decide to opt out of cervical screening ask your GP practice to arrange for your name to be removed from the list of women to be invited for screening.
You may be asked to put your request in writing so that there is a record of your decision. This helps to ensure that no one is removed from the screening programme by accident or for the wrong reasons.
More information about consent in the cancer screening programmes is available.
6. Diabetic eye screening
You can opt out of diabetic eye screening for up to 3 years by contacting and writing to your local diabetic eye screening programme. You can find contact details for them on the NHS website. After 3 years, the local programme will contact you to check whether circumstances have changed and if you now want to attend screening.
You cannot be screened if you withdraw your consent for the sharing of data between your GP and the local programme.
If you want to opt out of screening permanently then you can ask your GP not to share your information with the screening service.