National Screening Centre
Invitations, breast, bowel, cervical and AAA screening.
2122 7470 / 2122 747117, Lascaris Wharf, Valletta VLT 1921
Official contacts & emails ↗APPOINTMENTS & ANSWERS
You don’t have to work it all out alone.
Contacts, practical preparation and common questions.
Primary HealthCare
Community wellbeing and local clinic appointments.
2123 1231 / 2122 2444Ask which clinic and documents apply to you.
Official Primary HealthCare website ↗Sexual health / GU
Testing, exposure advice and GU appointments.
2545 7491 / 2545 7494Call before attending to confirm arrangements.
Official clinic information ↗ONE STEP AT A TIME
A clearer path to screening.
Knowing what comes next can make
the whole process feel easier.
Check your invitation
Read your letter and programme guidance. No invitation? Call the Centre to check your details and eligibility.
Make a little preparation
Follow your letter or kit instructions. For an appointment, bring identification and ask about any access needs beforehand.
Take the test
Attend your appointment or complete your home kit. Ask questions and tell staff if you feel uncomfortable.
Know what happens next
Check how and when results will arrive. Follow any recall instructions; further tests do not necessarily mean cancer.
A LITTLE MORE REASSURANCE
Good questions.
Clear answers.
Make an informed choice about your care.
I haven’t received an invitation. What should I do?
Call the National Screening Centre on 2122 7470 or 2122 7471. The breast and colorectal programme pages explicitly invite eligible people who have not received a letter to call. Ask the team to confirm your record, eligibility and next step.
Is screening a diagnosis?
No. Screening looks for possible changes before symptoms develop. An abnormal result may need another test or specialist assessment. No screening test finds every condition, and some findings may lead to extra tests or treatment that would not otherwise have been needed.
What if I have a family history or higher risk?
Speak with your GP. You may need an individual assessment or a different testing plan, rather than waiting for a routine national invitation.
Can I ask for support at my appointment?
Yes—contact the team before attending to discuss mobility, communication or other needs. For cervical screening, ask when booking if you would prefer a female clinician or someone to accompany you.
Are services free, and can non-Maltese residents use them?
Check your healthcare entitlement with the Centre. Residence and age alone may not establish eligibility. The official breast screening page asks non-Maltese residents to bring an EHIC or a recent payslip showing National Insurance contributions; confirm the documents needed for your situation before attending.
UNDERSTAND YOUR RESULT
What the words actually mean.
A result is the start of a conversation. Follow the instructions on your letter and ask if anything is unclear.
- Screening
- A check for possible disease or changes in someone without symptoms.
- Diagnostic test
- A test to investigate symptoms or clarify an abnormal screening finding.
- Positive / abnormal
- Something needs attention or further assessment. It does not by itself confirm cancer.
- Negative / normal
- No concerning finding on that test. It cannot rule out every condition or future change.
- Recall / repeat
- You may need clearer images, another sample or further investigation. Attend as advised.
- Overdiagnosis
- Finding a condition that would never have caused harm, which can lead to unnecessary treatment.
Before you leave any screening appointment
Confirm when results are due, how you’ll receive them, who to call if they’re late and when the next check is due. No news should not be assumed to mean a normal result. Keep your result letter and follow any referral instructions.