Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests to different sections of the population.

The aim is to offer screening to the people who are most likely to benefit from it. For example, some screening tests are only offered to newborn babies, while others such as breast screening and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening are only offered to older people.

An independent expert group called the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises the NHS, in all 4 UK countries, on which screening programmes to offer.

There are a number of NHS screening programmes currently offered in England. For more detailed information on each type of screening, follow the links.

• Screening can detect a problem early, before you have any symptoms.
• Finding out about a problem early can mean that treatment is more effective.
• Finding out you have a health problem or an increased chance of a health problem can help people make better informed decisions about their health.
• Screening can reduce the chance of developing a condition or its complications.
• Some deaths from abdominal aortic aneurysms, bowel cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer can be prevented.