NHS Smear Test in London

[Gooseysgirl]

Do any London based MNers know if there is an NHS/free walk in (or pre-bookable) clinic anywhere in central London for getting smear test done? (Don't want to get it done at my own surgery) TIA

[motheroreily]

I think the Margaret Pyke centre does. It's quite central near the bt tower.

[Gooseysgirl]

That would be perfect! Will check it out today. Thank you

[B1rdinthebush]

Margaret Pyke are fantastic but have now moved from just off Charlotte Street to near Kings Cross. Would highly recommend them, I went there for all my gynaecological stuff when I lived in London.

[PollyPerky]

Is M Pyke free though? Not NHS surely?

I used to use Marie Stopes nr Tottenham Court Road/ Oxford St but it's not NHS or free.

[PollyPerky]

M Pyke clinic- according to their website- does not offer smear tests. They offer contraception mainly for under 18s and sexual health checks- this does not appear to include smear tests - see their website. They also close today at 1pm OP if you are thinking of popping in or phoning.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

There are appointments for Margaret Pyke next week, you can book online. That said, I thought that they were now only offering free smears and STI checks to priority groups (female sex workers, people under 23, men who've had sex with men, people with HIV), so it might be worth calling first to check and see if there will be a cost.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

Double check that any sexual health clinic offers smear tests as many don't, as they want you to have the continuity of care of having it done at your GP (people can give false names etc at sexual health clinics so may be hard to update the national database)

The Burrell St clinic is another sexual health clinic on the southbank, can't see on their website whether they offer smears, but it does say they have freshly ground coffee and WiFi whilst you wait

[motheroreily]

Margaret pyke is definately nhs and used to offer smear tests but I'm not sure if they still do, last time I went it was still at Charlotte street and they may have cut down on their services.

Would recommend though, I used to go before work!

[Gooseysgirl]

Thanks all, I'll check today the Margaret Pyke. I used to go to a clinic in East London but it's since been closed (funding cuts... Same old same old ). Really not keen on getting it done by the nurse at our surgery so looking at other options, it's overdue now though so I might have to bite the bullet and just go to the nurse anyway

[PollyPerky]

You can have this done at most private hospitals that run 'well woman' services . I used to got to Marie Stopes in London but when I moved I went to elsewhere mainly because I feel the 5-years smear offered to women my age on the NHS is not enough.

If you have to pay the cost is around £50 which isn't bad value for money considering it's only once every 3 years or so depending on your age.

[Gooseysgirl]

I would happily pay that Polly but the few private places I've rung were charging far more and insisting doing it as part of a well woman check. But I'll look into it again...

[LeonardBobby]

I was offered a smear at the Margaret Pyke Centre a few weeks ago and their website does say they do them, under the 'screening' section of their services page: www.margaretpyke.org/services/services.html

I think they mentioned it was an appointment only rather than a walk in service, but definitely worth giving them a call.