CervicalCheck commenced on 1 September 2008. Under the Programme women aged 25-44 will be screened every 3 years and women aged 45-60 will be screened every 5 years. For the first year CervicalCheck operated on an open access system of screening. However, from September 2009, in line with best international practice, CervicalCheck changed from that open access entry system to an organised call, re-call system of invitation. This change will ensure that an effective and efficient population approach to screening that maximises target population coverage is maintained.
CervicalCheck has a national register of women aged 25 to 60. Over each screening round, all eligible women aged 25 to 60 will be invited for screening and invitation letters will be issued to women evenly across all age ranges.
The criteria for eligibility under the Programme are clearly set out on the CervicalCheck website. Any woman who has not had a smear test in the last three years can opt into the Programme simply by registering online, by completing and returning a form by Freepost, or by calling CervicalCheck on Freephone1800 45 45 55 to request an invitation. Certain women are eligible for a free smear test without a CervicalCheck invitation letter. These include women aged over 60 who have never had a smear test and women of any age post colposcopy.