Cervical Screening.
No Waiting Room.
No speculum. No examination. No awkward procedure. As a registered GP Pathfinder patient, you can now take your own cervical screening sample in a private room at our practice, or take it home and bring it back within 72 hours — simple, discreet, and on your own terms.
Not yet registered? Register online today and access this and many other benefits.
How It Works — 4 Simple Steps
The whole process takes less than 5 minutes. Here’s exactly what to do.
1
Request Your Kit
Ask at reception or speak to your GP to receive your free self-sampling kit. It will be ready and waiting for you at the clinic.
2
Take Your Sample
Step into a private clinical room or the practice bathroom or take it home and bring it back within 72 hours. Follow the simple illustrated instructions to take your own swab. No clinician is present. It takes under 2 minutes.
3
Hand It Back
Seal your sample in the secure envelope provided and hand it to our reception team. We ensure it reaches the NHS laboratory safely — no postbox trip needed.
4
Receive Your Results
Your results will be sent to your GP within 2–4 weeks. If further investigation is needed, we will contact you to arrange next steps.
What’s in Your Kit?
Everything you need is included. Your kit is provided at the practice on the day and contains:
- A vaginal self-sampling swab (eSwab)
- A secure, labelled sample tube
- Clear, illustrated step-by-step instructions
- A pre-paid return envelope (handed back to reception)
- A patient information leaflet
- A helpline number if you have any questions
The swab is soft, flexible, and comfortable. You do not need to insert it deeply — just a few centimetres. Most people find it completely painless.
We Handle Everything
Once you’ve handed your sample to our reception team, we take care of all the rest. Your sample is sent directly to an NHS-accredited laboratory, tracked and secure.
- Handled by our team
- NHS-accredited laboratory
- Results in 2-4 weeks
- Tracked and secure
Your sample is processed at an NHS-accredited laboratory. The whole journey from our clinic to your results is handled securely within the NHS.
Why Cervical Screening Matters
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers — but only if caught early. Here’s why this matters for you and the women you love.
3,200
women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK every year
99.8
women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK every year
1 in 3
women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK every year
83%
women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK every year
Watch: How to Use Your Self-Sampling Kit
This short NHS video walks you through the entire process step by step. It takes just 3 minutes to watch — and could save your life.
Video produced by the North Central London Cancer Alliance / NHS. Running time: 3 minutes 20 seconds.
Are You Eligible?
The HPV self-sampling pathway is available to eligible patients registered at GP Pathfinder Clinics.
You ARE eligible if you…
- Are aged 25–64 years old
- Have a cervix (including trans men and non-binary people)
- Are registered at a GP Pathfinder Clinics practice
- Are overdue your cervical screening (more than 3.5 years since your last smear)
- Have never had a cervical screening before
- Have previously declined a smear test at the clinic
Please speak to your GP if…
- You are currently pregnant
- You have had a total hysterectomy (womb and cervix removed)
- You have had an abnormal smear result in the last 3 years
- You are currently under colposcopy follow-up
- You have symptoms such as unusual bleeding or discharge (please book an appointment)
Why Choose the Self-Sampling Option?
This is a benefit of being a registered patient at GP Pathfinder Clinics. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to stay healthy.
Completely Private
Use a private clinical room or bathroom within the practice. You take the sample yourself, in your own time, with no clinician present.
No Awkward Procedure
The self-sampling swab is simple and comfortable. No speculum, no undressing, no examination by a clinician.
We Handle Everything
Once you’ve taken your sample, simply hand it to our reception team. We send it to the NHS laboratory and contact you with your results.
Completely Free
This is a fully funded NHS service. Your kit, the laboratory analysis, and your results are all completely free of charge.
Confidential & Secure
Your sample and results are handled with full NHS confidentiality. Only you and your GP will see your results.
Available in Your Language
Instructions and support are available in multiple languages including Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Hindi, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about HPV self-sampling.
Yes. Research shows that HPV self-sampling is highly accurate for detecting high-risk HPV — the virus that causes almost all cervical cancers. It is an approved NHS pathway validated in large clinical studies across the UK and Europe.
No. The swab is soft and flexible. You only need to insert it a few centimetres. The vast majority of women find it completely comfortable — far less uncomfortable than a traditional speculum examination.
A positive HPV result does not mean you have cancer. It means you have been exposed to the virus. Your GP will contact you to discuss next steps, which usually involves a referral for a colposcopy. Most HPV infections clear on their own without causing any problems
Results are typically returned within 2–4 weeks of your sample arriving at the laboratory. Your GP practice will contact you with your results. You can also check via the NHS App.
Yes, completely. The kit, the laboratory analysis, and your results are all provided free of charge as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme. There is no charge to you at any stage.
You take the sample yourself in a private clinical room or the practice bathroom — whichever is available and most comfortable for you. A member of staff will show you to the room and ensure you have complete privacy. No clinician will be present while you take the sample.
Instructions are available in Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Hindi, Polish, Portuguese, and many other languages. Please ask at reception or speak to your GP, and we will provide the appropriate materials.
It is best to avoid taking the sample during your period, as blood can affect the result. Wait until your period has finished and then visit the practice. If you are unsure, contact us for advice.
No. HPV is a very common virus and most people who have it never develop cancer. The test is designed to detect the virus early so that any changes to the cervix can be monitored and treated before they become cancerous. Early detection is the key to prevention.
