NHS cervical screening programme core and supporting activities
Updated 14 May 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-cervical-screening-cervical-sample-taker-training/nhs-cervical-screening-programme-core-and-supporting-activities
The core activities of the NHS cervical screening programme (CSP) are to:
- send invitations and reminders to the public and sample takers
- take samples
- report human papillomavirus (HPV) and cytology
- record and send out results to the public and sample takers
- perform colposcopy and treatment
- report histology biopsies and specimens
- provide information and advice for invitees
The supporting activities of the NHS CSP are:
- workforce planning, recruitment and retention
- training for all staff: sample takers, laboratories, cervical screening provider leads (CSPLs), colposcopy, histology, virology, administration and so on
- promoting and explaining the programme: face to face, mass media, campaigns, social media, written information
- establishing, updating and maintaining IT systems
- commissioning and co-ordinating locally, regionally and nationally
- acting on research evidence to set new policy
- commissioning research to help improve the programme
- quality checking each element of the programme
- providing information and support for the public