Every GP practice in London is now offering women a simple self-swab test for cervical screening, amid low screening rates in the capital.
The NHS in London says it hopes the new option will "help remove barriers such as discomfort, embarrassment, previous trauma and cultural concerns that may prevent some women from attending".
Cervical self-screening, also known as HPV self-testing, allows women to collect their own sample in private, without needing an internal examination carried out by a clinician.
For practice nurse Em J, the self-swab option removed a barrier that had previously stopped her taking part in screening.
"I have PTSD," she said. "Although I trained as a smear taker and mentor, I still find smears unbearable. I think the self-swabbing is amazing for women like me who struggle to engage with screening for whatever reason. I want to shout it from the rooftops. This is essential healthcare made accessible."
How to get one
London's GP-based offer sits alongside the national HPV self-testing rollout, where eligible people are invited through the NHS App. Together, the two routes give eligible women more ways to access screening.
Women in London who are six months or more overdue for cervical screening may be eligible for the self-swab option, and can speak to their GP practice to find out more. Some women may instead be invited to use an HPV self-test through the NHS App as part of the national rollout.
If you are invited by both the NHS App and your GP practice, you only need to complete the test once. Results are recorded centrally and shared with GP practices.
Since the programme launched in October 2025, more than 3,600 women across London have chosen to self-screen.
Women in London who are eligible are encouraged to contact their GP practice to find out about the screening options available to them, including self-screening where appropriate.
