Cervical screening for women with learning disability: Current practice and attitudes within primary care in Edinburgh

This study aimed to evaluate current practice in, and to explore primary care professionals' views about, providing cervical screening to women with learning disability, in two areas of Edinburgh. A postal questionnaire was sent to all 24 GP practices in the project area: 20 responded. Seven respondents were invited to participate in follow up interviews: six agreed. Results show that many practices lack robust mechanisms to identify their patients with learning disability; the low uptake of cervical screening by women with learning disability is not primarily because they are excluded from invitation for screening; practices vary in how they adapt the process of cervical screening to meet the needs of women with learning disability; and professionals make pragmatic decisions when considering screening for women unable to give informed consent. Primary care professionals need guidance and support to offer and provide screening appropriately to women with learning disability.