Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 26 May 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what disability adaptations are in place in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde facilities to accommodate female wheelchair users who require smear tests.
GP practices are funded to provide cervical screening services as part of their contractual arrangements with NHS boards, and are responsible for ensuring that services are accessible to patients, including those with disabilities.
Practitioners working with physically disabled patients should be confident and experienced in taking cervical samples, and should consider reasonable adjustments based on a patient’s needs. This can include providing longer appointments, using accessible examination equipment, or arranging for screening to take place in alternative settings, such as clinics with hoisting facilities.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is responsible for ensuring that GP practices and wider services meet these requirements and that appropriate arrangements are in place to support patients requiring additional assistance.