CERVICAL SCREENING
Private smear test in London
Basuto Medical Centre provides private smear tests (cervical screening) in Fulham, London, within an unhurried 30-minute appointment. Your GP takes the sample, explains every step, and goes through your results with you when they arrive.
The practice is at 29 Basuto Road, SW6 4BJ, 3 minutes’ walk from Parsons Green.
APPOINTMENT
30 minutes
Never rushed
CONSULTATION
£160
Price quoted before you book
Exceptional private GP care, with continuity since 1990
At a glance
Key details before you book
Appointment
30 minutes with a GP – time for the test, your questions and anything else on your mind.
The test
Takes only a few minutes; the rest of the time is yours.
Results
Explained to you by your GP, not left as a letter to decode.
Setting
A private consulting room in our house on Basuto Road – calm, unhurried, discreet.
Follow-up
Referral for colposcopy arranged directly if ever needed.
Booking
Request a female GP when booking. No registration, no catchment area.
Why it matters
The appointment people put off – and why it is worth booking
A smear test checks a sample of cells from the cervix for changes that could, if left alone for years, develop into cervical cancer. It is one of the most effective preventive tests in medicine – and one of the most postponed appointments in it.
Sometimes life just gets in the way. Sometimes the appointment feels uncomfortable, embarrassing or easy to delay, especially if a previous experience was rushed.
We think a smear test should never feel rushed – so ours are booked as full 30-minute appointments. The procedure itself takes a few minutes; the rest of the time is for explanation, questions, and any other women’s health concern you want to raise while you are here.
The NHS invites women aged 25 to 64 for regular screening. Patients come to us privately when they want more time, a calmer setting, a specific doctor – or simply a date that suits them now.
Your appointment
What happens at a private smear test
Nothing happens without being explained first. Your GP will talk you through the test before starting, answer any questions, and check you are comfortable at every stage – you are in control throughout, and you can ask to pause or stop at any point.
- Before: a short conversation about your history, previous screening, and anything that has made smears difficult for you in the past.
- During: the sample itself takes only a few minutes. Your GP uses a small speculum and a soft brush to collect cells from the cervix; it can feel briefly uncomfortable but should not be painful.
- After: the sample goes to the laboratory, and we tell you clearly when and how you will hear from us.
If you are anxious, say so when you book – we will not think it strange, and the appointment can be paced entirely around you. Many patients also use the remaining time to discuss contraception, periods or menopause questions, which is exactly what a 30-minute slot is for.
Results
Your results, explained by your GP
Most smear test results are normal, and your GP will tell you your result and what it means rather than leaving you with a standard letter. Results are typically available within a matter of days. If cell changes or HPV are found, that is very rarely a diagnosis of anything.
Most changes are minor and simply need monitoring or a closer look. Your GP will explain the finding in plain English, what the follow-up pathway looks like, and arrange a referral for colposcopy directly where it is needed. The aim is a process that feels clear and manageable at every step, not alarming.
Private and NHS
Private screening alongside the NHS programme
A private smear test does not remove you from the NHS cervical screening programme – you will still receive NHS invitations on the usual schedule, and we encourage you to stay registered with your NHS GP. Ask us how your private result relates to your NHS screening record.
Patients typically book privately between NHS invitations for peace of mind, after a previous result they want followed more closely, when they have missed or cannot get an NHS appointment, or because they want the same trusted doctor each time.
Pricing
What a private smear test costs
Smear test consultation
£160
Full 30-minute GP consultation, smear taken within it.
Whatever the final figure, it will be quoted to you before you book – no surprises at reception.
If you would like the smear as part of a wider health review, the Well Woman Check includes one alongside blood tests, blood pressure, BMI and a full GP assessment.
Your doctor
A calm setting and an experienced GP
Dr Nora Al-Saraf
MB BS MRCGP – Leads our women’s health service
Smear tests at Basuto are carried out by experienced GMC-registered GPs. You can request a female GP when you book.
The practice has occupied the same property on Basuto Road since 1990 – a private medical facility in a quiet residential street. Basuto is CQC registered and rated 4.9 stars on Doctify across 345 verified reviews.
Common Questions
Private Smear Test FAQs
How much is a private smear test in London?
At Basuto the smear is taken within a 30-minute GP consultation (£160). The price is confirmed when you book, and the appointment includes time for questions and any other women’s health concerns.
Can I choose a female doctor for my smear test?
Yes. Dr Nora Al-Saraf carries out cervical screening, and you can request a female GP when booking. Tell us anything that would make the appointment easier – we will accommodate it.
How long does a smear test take?
The sample itself takes only a few minutes. Your appointment is 30 minutes, so there is time to talk first, go at your pace, and cover any other questions without watching the clock.
Does a smear test hurt?
It can feel briefly uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. Your GP explains each step, uses the smallest suitable speculum, and you can pause or stop at any time. If previous smears were difficult, tell us when you book.
How quickly will I get my results?
Typically within days, and your GP will explain the result to you directly rather than sending an unexplained letter. If any follow-up is needed, we arrange it with you straight away.
What happens if my result is abnormal?
Your GP will explain exactly what was found and what it means – most changes are minor and simply need monitoring or a closer look. Where colposcopy is needed, we arrange the referral directly and stay involved in your follow-up.
Do I still get NHS screening invitations if I book privately?
Yes. A private smear does not affect your place in the NHS cervical screening programme, and you keep your NHS GP. Ask us how your private result relates to your NHS screening record.
When should I have a smear test?
The NHS invites women aged 25 to 64 at set intervals, and that schedule is a sensible baseline. If you are overdue, have never been screened, or have symptoms such as unusual bleeding, book an appointment – symptoms need assessment, not screening.
Find us
Visit us in Parsons Green
Basuto Medical Centre is at 29 Basuto Road, London SW6 4BJ – three minutes’ walk from Parsons Green and five minutes from Parsons Green station on the District line. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm.
If you have been putting it off, this is the version of the appointment designed to make it easy: a calm room, an unhurried GP, and results explained properly. Book online in two minutes.
Booking
Book a private smear test
If you have been putting it off, this is the version of the appointment designed to make it easy: a calm room, an unhurried GP, and results explained properly.
Medically reviewed by Dr Nora Al-Saraf, MB BS MRCGP, GMC 6149057 · 23 July 2026