NHS Cervical screening: cervical sample taker training
Guidance on the training of new cervical sample takers.
Applies to England
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This guidance describes a post registration education pathway for new cervical sample takers in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP).
It aims to:
- promote high quality, specialist training that is consistent with national policy recommendations and programme requirements
- provide a common core of learning for all sample takers to a required minimum standard
- advise on the training requirements for all sample takers in the NHSCSP
- endorse the cervical screening mentor and cervical screening assessor roles for consistency in training and assessment
- promote interaction across the care pathway
The guidance also describes the requirement for update training to support sample takers in meeting their clinical and professional responsibilities for continuing professional development and revalidation.
You can download slide presentations for training topic modules 1 to 6, and 8 (there is no presentation for topic 7).
The initial assessment for trainees is available on e-Learning for Healthcare (E-LfH).
Contact the screening helpdesk with any queries about this publication, making sure you include its full title.
Last updated 14 September 2023 + show all updates
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The guidance has been updated to include: • the addition of registered paramedics working in primary care to the list of healthcare professionals eligible for training to take cervical samples (Chapter 3, section 3.1) • a change to name of the 'interim' test to initial test to provide clarity on when in the training programme it should be completed (Chapter 5) • clarification that trainee sample takers must not include patient identifiable information (PID) on their records of samples taken documented in their workbook (Recording form and template examples) • clarified that it is the sample taker's responsibility to provide evidence of completed update training to the NHS cervical screening laboratory that holds the sample taker register for their locality (Chapter 3, section 3.23) • the addition of information on adapting theoretical content for a virtual platform (Chapter 4, section 4.5) • clarification of when to take a cervical sample after any clinical intervention (Topic 8, section 3.4) • the addition of information on taking a sample when an IUCD is in situ (Topic 8, section 3.4)
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Update of guidance to include paramedics as registered sample takers
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Updated following the implementation of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening in the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
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First published.