§ 11. Mrs. Maureen HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by the Government to improve the health of women; and how it will build on this work for attaining future targets.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe Government place a high priority on improving the health of women. We are one of the first countries in the world to introduce computerised call and recall breast cervical cancer screening programmes. We recently published a booklet to publicise the help and services available to women.
§ Mrs. HicksIs my hon. Friend aware of a recent survey of 5,000 women showing that cancer remains their single most worrying health concern? Does not that prove, if proof were needed, that the Government were right to guarantee a cervical smear to every woman between the ages of 20 and 64 and breast screening to every woman aged between 50 and 64? Were not the Government also right to hold out on targeting, despite all the opposition, to ensure that general practitioners encouraged women to come forward for cervical screening? I am pleased to report that all 70 GP practices in Wolverhampton have achieved one of the two targets set for them.
§ Mrs. BottomleyMy hon. Friend makes the point extremely powerfully. Labour advocates a two-tier health service in which inner city areas would have a lower target. We held out for all general practitioners to achieve higher targets, of the same standard, across the country. To help inner city areas, we introduced deprivation payments. That is the way to extend health care. My hon. Friend is right that health promotion and disease prevention for women have been a real breakthrough.