If you want to know something about the national NHS Screening Programmes, the screening helpdesk is there to help. Enquiries to the helpdesk have increased by almost half, from 971 to 1,440 in the last year - especially since taking on the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and diabetic eye screening (DES) programmes in addition to the antenatal and newborn programmes.
During the first quarter of 2015 (1 April to 30 June), most queries came from members of the public who wanted to know the contact details of their local AAA screening service. We are now working with NHS Choices to improve the search function for local AAA, DES and newborn hearing programmes, which should hopefully mean people can find the information they are looking for more quickly. This is one example of how analysis of helpdesk queries can help to improve the service screening programmes provide.
Between April and June, two-thirds of helpdesk calls concerned four areas: newborn hearing, AAA, DES, and publications and information (leaflet and website enquiries).
The helpdesk does not currently support the cancer programmes but any queries we receive are forwarded to the relevant cancer team.
e-learning issues
A quarter of all enquiries to the helpdesk are about e-learning issues, many of them from people who struggle to register for e-learning using their home e-mail address. Please remember that you must use your NHS email address to register for e-learning.
Registering for the he newborn and infant physical examination (NIPE) e-learning module is different to the others. As well as needing an NHS email address you must also be GMC or NMC registered. The only exception is academics who teach newborn examination courses, but they must have an honorary contract with the NHS.
We have to be strict about who can access the NIPE e-learning because we need to be sure that anyone viewing the module has been Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked due to the sensitive nature of some of the filming in the resource.
The helpdesk aims to provide information and support to programme stakeholders and users of our screening services.
To contact the screening helpdesk please email Phe.screeninghelpdesk@nhs.net or telephone 0203 682 0890
PHE Screening blog
The PHE Screening blog provides up to date news from all NHS Screening programmes – replacing our previously published newsletters. You can register to receive updates direct to your inbox, so there’s no need to keep checking for new blogs.