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.

Contact us

jonathan.thomas@ghc.nhs.uk

07779 879625

Referrals

ldscreening@ghc.nhs.uk

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)

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