Skip to main content

MEDLINK

From the 1st of April 2025, Holt Medical Practice will be using a new system called MEDLINK for reviewing long-term conditions (LTCs) online.

Please click this link to find out more.

Screening programs

Cervical cancer screening

Available to all women with a cervix aged 25 – 64.

  • Patients aged 25-54 will automatically receive an invitation every 3 years.
  • Patients aged 55-64 will automatically receive an invitation every 5 years.

The first two invitation letters in a cycle are automatically generated; the first 6 weeks before your smear is due, and a second to non-responders 18 weeks later. The surgery will send a third and final invitation a further 14 weeks later. If you do not want a smear, please do not just throw your invitation in the bin; please help to save us time by letting us know as soon as possible – by telling us you won’t receive another letter for 3 or 5 years.

If you have received a letter in the previous 3 or 5 years but ignored it, you are still eligible for a smear. Please speak to Reception to book.

If you have had a smear test in the previous 3 or 5 years, you are not yet eligible for a repeat smear. Any tests which do slip through at the surgery will be rejected by the laboratory without being tested.

Breast cancer screening

Available to women aged 50 or over.

  • Women over the age of 50 will automatically receive an invitation every 3 years
  • Women over the age of 71 can self-refer once every 3 years by contacting the NNUH screening team on 01603 287777

Bowel cancer screening

Available to men and women aged 55 or over.

  • Patients aged 55 will be automatically invited for a one-off bowel scope screening test.
  • Patients aged 60-74 will be automatically invited every 2 years to do use a home testing kit which is then sent off for analysis.
  • Patients over the age of 75 can continue to use a home testing kit every 2 years by contacting the national bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 7076060.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

Available to men aged 65 or over.

  • Men over the age of 65 who have not received a screening invitation can request to be screened by contacting the Norfolk & Norwich screening team on 01603 288218

Diabetic eye screening

All patients with diabetes will be automatically invited annually for diabetic retinopathy screening. This recall is coordinated by the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital. The hospital automatically extracts information from the surgery to invite patients. Local screening clinics are held annually at both Holt Medical Practice and Melton Constable surgery.

Page published: 4 December 2023
Last updated: 4 December 2023