§ Ms. Ruddockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health authorities use their own pathology laboratories for dealing with cervical smears; and how many put them out to private contractors.
§ Mrs. Currie[pursuant to her reply, 30 June 1987, c. 70]: All health authorities have pathology laboratory facilities suitable for the examination of cervical smears. Some health authorities sent smears to private laboratories, particularly where backlogs arose following the sharp increase in the number of cervical smears taken in the last two years. Detailed information on the use of private laboratories is not collected centrally.