New pan-London Cervical Sample Taker Database (CTSD)

NHS England has commissioned a web-based Cervical Sample Taker Database (CSTD) for the quality assurance of sample taking in London. The database enables the allocation of unique sample taker codes to NMC/GMC registered professionals who are competent to take cervical smears. This is designed to reduce the number of incidents related to unqualified or inappropriately trained sample takers in London. The intention  of NHSE is to enhance the quality of smears taken and the performance of smear takers by monitoring and reporting on the quality of cervical samples taken in London at three identifiable levels - Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), GP practice and individual smear taker level.

Mandatory cervical smear training for GPs cannot be imposed; as for any activity performed by a GP the GP himself/herself has a professional duty to ensure that he/she possesses the current skill level required to perform it.  Any GP undertaking smear tests should therefore be confident that they have the competency to do so and if necessary be prepared to demonstrate reasonably to NHS England that they do possess the skill level required. Nursing colleagues do have to undertake mandatory training. It is important to note that currently NHSE intends to exclude health care assistants and physicians’ associates/assistants from the database even if they have undertaken the necessary training.

Sample takers, practice managers and CCG Quality Leads will be able to register on the database via a web link. NHS England will issue full user guides before roll out commences. Key stakeholders including Practice Development and Network Leads will be invited to training events to support this process in each sector prior to roll out.

The phased implementation by sector is shown below; a more detailed roll out plan will be circulated in due course.

Sector Start Date End Date

• North Central London September 2015 November 2015
• South East London December 2015 January 2016
• South West London January 2016 February 2016
• North East London March 2016 April 2016
• North West London May 2016 June 2016

As part of the registration process, sample takers will be required to provide their personal details,

including professional registration numbers and nurses will be required to provide evidence of mandatory training attended. All sample takers are urged to ensure they are up to date with the recommended cervical screening training as set out in Interim Good Practice Guidance for Cervical Sample Takers, NHSCSP Good Practice Guide No 2 July 2011, to ensure they remain up to date with changes in the cervical screening programme and provide safe & high quality patient care. For details of cervical training providers in London or queries, please email loncstd.england@nhs.net.

Update: This page is just on-passing the information we have received so far about the database requirements. We have had some enquiries asking for further details, including a website address for registration, which is information we do not have.