List of participants due to be invited also known as the Prior Notification List (PNL)

The list of participants due to be invited  formally known as the Prior Notification List (PNL), identify participants who are due to be invited for cervical screening. They are an essential part of the call/recall programme and should be completed by GP practices each week to ensure that participants are invited for screening at the appropriate time. The lists can be viewed via the cervical screening system 10 weeks before a participant’s next test due date. This allows GP practices four weeks to check their lists and submit a response.

The Cervical Screening Administration Service (CSAS) invites eligible participants for cervical screening on behalf of GP practices. This is done on two occasions. Non responder notifications are sent to practices if there is no record of a participant attending for a test after having been sent invitation and reminder letters.  A third invitation is then undertaken by the practice.

Practices have an important role in managing both this list and the non responder list to ensure participants are invited for screening appropriately. Screening participants can be deferred from the programme for specific reasons  which may include already having a recent test, a current pregnancy, a participant wishes to defer, a patient already being treated relating to screening and discharge from colposcopy.  Patients can also be ceased from the programme because of their age or because of no cervix. If the participants on the lists are not reviewed regularly, they will be invited but this means there may be a risk some some participants may be invited inappropriately.

The list of participants should also be checked carefully to ensure all ‘ghost’ patients are removed and addresses are correct.

The GP Contract Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) includes two indicators for cervical screening:

• 80% of people eligible for screening and aged 25-49 years have had an adequate cervical screening test performed in the previous 3 years and 6 months
• 80% of people eligible for screening and aged 50-64 years have had an adequate cervical screening test performed in the previous 5 years and 6 months

The importance of managing the list of participants due to be invited is essential in improving the coverage of participants who attend for regular cervical screening. 

The new NHS Cervical Screening Management System also allows sample takers to check a screening participant’s screening history and check that all screening participants are being invited appropriately in line with the screening guidelines.

We recommend that more than one member of staff have responsibility for reviewing the list of participants to be be invited within the practice to ensure continuity in the event of staff leave or sickness. Whilst admin staff are often responsible for managing this list  we recommend that clinical staff are involved in checking these lists and ensure participants are ceased or deferred appropriately.

You will need to decide which practice staff will be nominated to process and manage the list of participants due to be invited and non responder lists and ensure they have the appropriate RBAC permissions and have received the appropriate training.