Surrey and Sussex Screening and Immunisation Team

What we do

We are the NHS England Screening and Immunisations Team (SIT). As part of the NHS England South East Public Health Commissioning Team we work alongside clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), local authorities, and service providers to ensure that local screening and immunisation programmes commissioned by NHS England are delivered in a safe, effective and accessible manner. We work with providers and stakeholders to:

  • Ensure that the screening and immunisation programmes:
    • meet the needs of our eligible population
    • provide the highest levels of quality, safety and efficiency
    • meet minimum standards and strive for excellence.
  • Review coverage and coordinate interventions to address inequalities.
  • Identify and assess service risks, including managing incidents and ensuring shared learning is identified and promoted.
  • Organise and chair quarterly board meetings for all screening and immunisation programmes.
  • Proactively engage patients/public to participate and contribute to service development.
  • Review complaints and compliments.
  • Raise the profile and awareness of screening and immunisation programmes via a coordinated and consistent approach.
  • Provision of data to key stakeholders and providers.

 

NHS immunisation programmes covered by the team
Childhood immunisation programme

 

 

 

 

 

 
  • Diphtheria, TetanusPertussis (whooping cough)
  • Polio and Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB)
  • Pneumococcal (PCV13)
  • Meningococcal B (MenB)
  • Rotavirus
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  • Hib/MenC
  • Pre-school booster (DTaP/IPV)
  • Childhood Seasonal Influenza delivered to 2 and 3 year olds and children in a clinical risk group
School based immunisation programme

 

 
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (Td/IPV) Meningococcal ACWY
  • Seasonal Influenza
Adult immunisation programme

 
  • Seasonal Influenza
  • Pneumococcal (PPV23)
  • Shingles
Immunisations for those at risk

 

 
  • Neonatal Hepatitis B
  • Neonatal BCG (TB)
  • Prenatal Pertussis
  • Seasonal Influenza
  • Covid-19 (subject to latest guidance)

 

Cancer screening programmes covered by the team
Bowel cancer screening Offered to men and women aged 60 – 74, every 2 years.
Breast cancer screening Offered to all women aged from 50 to their 71st birthday who are registered with a GP are automatically invited for breast cancer screening every 3 years.

A trial is currently in place to examine the effectiveness of offering some women 1 extra screen between the ages of 47 and 49, and 1 between the ages of 71 and 73
Cervical cancer screening Offered to women aged 25 – 49 every 3 years, and to women aged 50 – 64 every 5 years

 

Non-cancer screening programmes covered by the team
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening Offered to all men in their 65th year. Men over this age are encouraged to self-refer
Diabetic eye screening Offered annually to all people with type 1 or type 2 Diabetes from the age of 12
Antenatal screening This is offered to all pregnant women and includes screening for:
infectious diseases, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia, fetal anomalies including Down’s syndrome
Newborn screening This is offered to all newborns and includes: bloodspot screening, the newborn infant physical examination, and hearing screening

 

Useful resources

 

Unvaccinated children

In Surrey and Sussex, we have commissioned a Specialist Immunisation Team to deliver school aged vaccination programmes and catch up opportunities for children who have missed out on their routine childhood immunisations. The team runs community catch up clinics across Surrey and Sussex. Parents with children who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated can contact the Specialist Immunisation Team using the contact details below: