General practices should be aware of an important update to the NHS Cervical Screening Programme following the rollout of digital-first communications for cervical screening invitations and reminders.
The NHS has now confirmed that 9 out of 10 cervical screening invitations are being delivered digitally, either through the NHS App or by SMS message, rather than by traditional paper letters.
This change means practices may need to review how teams discuss cervical screening with patients and ensure staff understand how the new invitation process works.
Why this matters for practices
For many practices, phrases such as “Have you received your letter?” are still commonly used when discussing screening uptake with patients. However, with most invitations now being sent digitally, this language may no longer reflect the patient experience.
Practices may wish to:
- Brief reception and care navigation teams on the new digital invitation process
- Update call scripts, templates and patient communications where appropriate
- Encourage patients to download the NHS App and enable notifications
- Ensure staff can confidently explain how invitations are now received
Improving staff awareness can help reduce confusion for patients and support uptake of cervical screening appointments.
CQC and quality improvement considerations
Cervical screening continues to be an area of focus within CQC assessments and the new single assessment framework quality statements.
Inspectors may ask practices about:
- Cervical screening achievement and uptake
- How the national invitation system operates
- What the practice is doing locally to engage eligible patients
- How practices support harder-to-reach groups
Practices should therefore be able to demonstrate an understanding of the new digital invitation model, alongside any local initiatives being used to encourage screening attendance.
Examples may include:
- Targeted recalls or follow-up processes
- Text messaging campaigns
- Opportunistic promotion during appointments
- Outreach to underserved patient groups
- Promotion of the NHS App within the practice
New communication assets available
To support the rollout, NHS England has produced a range of digital communication assets that practices can use locally, including:
- Social media graphics and messaging
- Posters for waiting rooms
- Digital screen content
- Frequently asked questions for patients
These resources are available on Future NHS and can be used across practice communication channels and healthcare settings.
Further information
For questions about the digital cervical screening communications programme, practices can contact: