Screening

Antenatal Screening

Antenatal Screening Wales is funded by the National Assembly for Wales to support improvements in the standard of antental screening offered to women.

If you are pregnant, you will be offered a number of different screening tests. You can choose whether or not to have these tests and the information in this website will help you choose. You can also talk about the tests with your midwife and doctor.

If you would like to comment on any of the information provided on this website please email:
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You can get more information about screening tests from your midwife or your hospital doctor (your obstetrician).

Bowel Screening

"Don't die of embarrassment" ...

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in Wales.

1,000 people die from it each year in Wales.

However, if it is picked up early, it is also one of the most treatable.

If you are aged between 60 and 69, you will receive a bowel screening kit through the post over the next two years.

We are inviting people according to their date of birth and by the end of 2009 will have invited all people who are aged between 60 and 69 and resident in Wales with a birthday before the 1st August. During 2010 we will invite people aged between 60 and 69 years of age with birthdays between August and December.

You will be able to carry out the test at home and in private.

You can also find further information about bowel cancer and bowel screening on this website.

Regular bowel screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 15%.

Screening detects bowel cancer at an early stage – often when there are no symptoms – and yet when treatment is most effective.

The Bowel Screening Wales programme is beginning with people aged 60 and 69.

Breast Cancer

Breast screening looks for breast cancer before symptoms show. This involves taking x-rays (mammograms) of the breast. At least two x-rays of each breast are taken. Learn more about having a mammogram (Royal College of Radiologists website).

Why is it important?

Breast cancer can affect any woman but is more common in women aged over 50. The risk of developing breast cancer is related to age – the older you are, the higher your risk. It affects one in nine women in Wales at some time in their lives. If we find breast cancer at an early stage, treatment has the greatest chance of being successful. The best way of screening for breast cancer is by having regular mammograms, as you may not be able to see or feel early changes.

Appointments

If you are aged between 50 and 70, there is no need for you to do anything. We invite you automatically every three years. We identify women from their GPs’ lists so it is important that your doctor always has your correct name and address.

We invite each doctor’s practice in turn. You will not necessarily get your first invitation in the year that you turn 50. As long as you are registered with a doctor, we will invite you for breast screening before your 53rd birthday.

For more informaiton, take a look at the web site at the bottom of the page.

Cervical Screening

Cervical Screening Wales is responsible for the NHS cervical screening programme in Wales, including sending invitations automatically. We get your details from your doctor’s list, so it is important that your doctor always has your correct name and address. If you have chosen to have a smear taken privately in the past, you are still entitled to have an NHS smear, and so you would still receive an invitation when your NHS smear was due.

The aim of the cervical screening programme is to reduce the incidence of, and morbidity and mortality from, invasive cervical cancer. However, screening also has the potential to cause both physical and psychological harm to women invited. It is essential that this harm is minimised, so that the benefits of screening outweigh the costs. A balance must be struck between maximising effectiveness and minimising harm.

You can have your cervical smear at your local GP surgery, with your GP or Practice Nurse. You can also go to your local community or sexual health clinic.

If you are unsure of where to find these clinics you can contact your local cervical screening administration department or telephone NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647.

Newborn Hearing Screening

Early detection of hearing loss leads to improved outcomes in speech and language development and in general the well being of the child and family.

Our aim therefore is to identify babies with hearing impairment which, without additional help and support, is of sufficient severity to potentially cause a disability. This will enable the earlier provision of family friendly support services, which will help the child to develop better language and communication skills.

Why screen my baby's hearing?

One or two babies in every 1000 are born with a hearing loss. Most of these babies will be born into families where no-one else has a hearing loss. It is not easy for parents to tell if a young baby has a hearing loss. Finding out early is important for a baby’s development. It also means that support and information can be offered right from the start.

Screening does not detect all hearing loss or prevent future hearing difficulties.

When and where the test is done

The test will usually be done in the first few weeks of life. If your baby is born in hospital, you may be offered the test before you go home. If not, it can be done at home or in a local clinic.

How the test is done

A trained screener will carry out the test. The screening test is done while your baby is settled or asleep. It will not hurt your baby or feel uncomfortable. The test only takes a few minutes. You can stay with your baby while the test is done.

More Information

All screening test information and contact information can be found at the central web site run by the NHS. Take a look at the site:
http://www.screeningservices.org.uk/

All information taken from Screening Services