The NHS has launched a new and innovative mobile cervical screening pilot in Birmingham - bringing life-saving cancer prevention and early detection services directly into neighbourhoods.

The mobile unit will be located at a range of community locations in Central Birmingham including retail, healthcare and wellbeing settings, complementing existing GP services and giving women greater flexibility in how they access cervical screening. The service is available to women registered with any GP practice in Birmingham and Solihull.

Since the pilot launched on 9 December 2025, almost 60 women have had a screening at the mobile unit. The announcement comes as this week marks national Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which runs from 19 to 25 January.

Sally Roberts, Chief Nurse and Clinical & Quality Officer at NHS Birmingham, Black Country and Solihull, said: “This pilot is a really exciting example of how we are transforming services to work better for women. By taking cervical screening directly into neighbourhoods, we are making access simpler, more flexible and more inclusive.

“It strongly reflects the ambitions of the national 10 Year Health Plan – creating neighbourhood health services and focusing on prevention by spotting potential problems early, before cancer develops.”

Cervical screening is offered to women aged 25 to 64 every five years. Cervical screening checks the health of cells in the cervix. It is not a test for cancer but helps prevent cervical cancer by identifying early cell changes that can be monitored or treated before they become serious.

The mobile cervical screening unit will operate from 9.30am to 3.30pm at the following locations:

  • Tuesday 20 January – Wing Yip Supermarket, 325 Nechells Park Road, Birmingham, B7 5NT
  • Thursday 22 January – Highgate Medical Centre, St Patrick’s Community Centre for Health, Frank Street, Birmingham, B12 0YA
  • Tuesday 27 January – Southside Enterprise, 249 Ladypool Road, Birmingham, B12 8LF
  • Thursday 29 January – Saheli Hub, Balsall Heath Calthorpe Wellbeing Hub, 257 Edward Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9LF
  • Tuesday 3 February – WM Legacy Centre, Soho House, Handsworth, B18 5LB

As part of the women’s health programme with Sparkbrook Children’s Zone, the mobile unit will also operate every Thursday outside Highgate Medical Centre. 

Funded by the West Midlands Cancer Alliance, the pilot has been developed in partnership between the NHS and local community organisations, including Sparkbrook Children’s Zone, the Chinese Community Centre, Saheli Hub, Green Lane Mosque and WM Legacy. This community-led approach supports neighbourhood health services and helps tackle inequalities in access to cancer prevention and early detection.

In line with the NHS shift from analogue to digital, invitations for cervical screening are now sent via the NHS App. Letters are only issued where the app is not available or has not been accessed. Negative test results are also shared through the app, helping people stay informed and engaged with their health.

More information about cervical screening is available here, including a short video by  Cancer Research UK explaining what happens at a screening and why it is important.