Information for carers and the people they support - Preparing for screening
The person invited for screening may need practical help when taking part in screening. This could be because they may be mentally or physically unable to take part in screening without support.
If you need further tests, some people may be eligible for help travelling to their appointment. Contact Patient Transport Services at your local hospital for more information. You may also be able to get help travelling to appointments for treatment or diagnostic tests. Visit the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme web pages for more information.
Information about diabetic eye, breast and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
Some screening programmes will invite people to go to a screening clinic. If you or the person you support is offered an appointment at a screening clinic, let us know before the appointment if you would like to:
- change the appointment to a more suitable time or date
- ask for a longer appointment
- check if there is a more accessible clinic
- check if you can visit the screening clinic before the appointment
- request translation or interpreter services
- request information in other formats, for example, Easy Read, British Sign Language (BSL), audio
- ask questions about supporting someone who cannot make decisions (mental capacity), or
- ask us about the screening test or tell us about any other individual needs you have that may affect taking part in screening (for example, a mental or physical disability).
Screening services make every effort to screen people who attend and will try to be as flexible as possible.
If you have any questions or need further support, you can contact the following screening programmes who offer appointments at screening clinics.
On each of these pages you can download information in other formats, including Easy Read, BSL, audio and video.
Information about cervical screening
When you make an appointment for cervical screening (smear) test for yourself or the person you care for, you may want to check with the doctor’s surgery whether:
- they can offer a longer appointment
- there is a more accessible clinic, or
- you can visit the clinic before the appointment.
Let the surgery know if you:
- need to change the appointment to a more suitable time or date
- would like translation or interpreter services, or
- have any questions about supporting someone who cannot make their own decisions (mental capacity).
Talk to your doctor or nurse before the appointment if you or the person you support has any questions about the screening test or has any other individual needs that may affect taking part in screening (for example, a mental or physical disability).
If you would like to get in touch to tell us about your experience of Cervical Screening Wales you can contact us.
On the Cervical Screening Wales page you can download information in other formats, including Easy Read, BSL, audio and video.
Information about bowel screening
If you are helping someone to do their home test kit for bowel screening you may want to:
- read the information for carers leaflet
- watch this short video which shows you how to complete the test
- contact the helpline if you have any questions about supporting someone who cannot make decisions (mental capacity), and
- talk to us if you have any questions about the screening test or if you need further support.
If you are a care worker or care provider, read the information booklet for care homes.
If you are doing your own home test kit for bowel screening, you can:
- contact the helpline if you have any questions about the test kit or completing your test
- watch this short video which shows you how to complete the test, and
- talk to us if you have any questions about the screening test or if you need further support.
If you would like to get in touch to tell us about your experience of Bowel Screening Wales you can contact us.
On the Bowel Screening Wales page you can download information in other formats, including Easy Read, BSL, audio and video.
Page last reviewed: 11th February 2026