Important Changes Cervical Screening from September 2026

From September 2025, the NHS plans to start sending results from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, utilising the NHS App. 

In September, those who have a negative test result will be notified of this by an NHS App message. It will also appear as an NHS App notification. If the NHS App message isn’t read within 72 hours, a letter will be sent in the post as a failsafe.    For those who do not have the NHS App, they will be sent their result by post.

Abnormal result letters will continue for the time being to be delivered by post. 

This change follows the successful rollout of digital invitations and reminders in June 2025, where since the launch, 9 out of every 10 invitations are being sent digitally, with the remainder being sent by post. 

Important actions and notes for General practice nurses: 

·       From immediate effect, please inform patients attending cervical screening that from September their results may be delivered via the NHS App.  

·       Please encouraging your patients to download the NHS App and turn on notifications: www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/