Services
Learning Disability Health Screening
The Learning Disability Screening Team is here to support access and attendance at screening appointments.
Recent changes to screening
July 2025 update: Please note that recent Government changes have been made to health screening programmes.
- Bowel screening is offered to people aged 50 and over
- Smear tests are scheduled every five years
The aim of the learning disability screening team is to support access and attendance at screening appointments. NHS screening is a way of finding out if people have an increased risk of a health problem. Some screening programmes are for women only and others are for men only.
The service is for adults with a learning disability who are participating in the national screening programme.
Some screening programmes start for those aged 18. Others screening programmes start from the age of 50.
There are five screening programmes this service supports:
- Diabetic eye screening
- Cervical screening
- Breast screening
- Bowel cancer screening
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
We provide information and training to raise awareness of adult screening programmes to people with a learning disability, their carers/ families and support care providers with practical guidance.
We offer individual support for people with a learning disability to enable people to take responsibility for their health and to make an informed decision. We also work with local screening providers, including GP surgeries, to support people with learning disabilities to attend screening appointments.
Referrals
Learning Disability Screening Team, Edward Jenner Court, Brockworth, Gloucester GL3 4AW
For a copy of our leaflet, email ldscreening@ghc.nhs.uk
Screening Ages
Diabetic Eye Screening ages
Diabetic eye screening is a test that looks for an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy that can be caused by diabetes. If you have diabetes and you’re aged 12 or over, you’ll get a letter every 1 or 2 years asking you to have diabetic eye screening.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening ages
Offered to men during the year they turn 65. Older men can self-refer.
Breast screening ages
Offered routinely every 3 years to women aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday. Older women can self-refer.
Cervical screening ages
Offered to women aged from 25 to 49 every 5 years, and women aged from 50 to 64 every 5 years.
Bowel cancer screening ages
Offered to people aged 50 to 74 every 2 years. Screening is gradually being offered to people in their 50s as well. Those aged 75 or over can request screening by calling 0800 707 6060.
Links for more information
Aortic Aneurism screening
NHS – information from the national NHS website
NHS – Easy Read leaflet
NHS – Easy Read appointment letter
NHS – Screening results for small, medium or large abdominal aortic aneurism
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust – Abdominal aortic aneurism screening information
Gateshead Health NHS Trust – What is an abdominal aortic aneurism (video)
Breast screening
NHS – Easy Guide to Breast Screening
NHS – Breast Cancer and How to Spot it
Macmillan – Breast Care and Screening
Mencap – A film on cancer awareness and screening
Thera Trust – Breast Cancer Resources
Thera Trust – Checking for Breast Cancer reference card
Do The Test – a series of six short films for women with learning disabilities
Cervical screening
Diabetic Eye Screening
NHS – Diabetic Eye Screening web page
NHS – Your guide to diabetic eye screening
NHS – Easy Guide to diabetic eye screening
See Ability – Diabetic Eye Screening (Easy Read)
Diabetes UK – Diabetic eye screening webpage
Gloucestershire Health and Care: Community Diabetes Service
Bowel Cancer screening
NHS – Bowel Cancer Screening information
NHS – Bowel Cancer Screening Easy Guide
Mencap – A film on cancer awareness and screening
Bowel Cancer Screening – Films about screening in Urdu, Somali, Romanian, Portuguese, Polish, Mandarin, Lithuanian, Latvian, French and Bengali
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust – Bowel Cancer Screening information