§ 34. Mr. Patchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the target level of accuracy in National Health Service pathology laboratories for dealing with cervical smears.
§ 37. Mr. Bradleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he has made to monitor the standards of accuracy of cervical smear tests.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he intends to take to safeguard. in the 381W rest of the United Kingdom, the accuracy of smear tests for cervical cancer, following recent errors which have been shown to have occurred in the Liverpool area health authority.
§ Mrs. Currie[pursuant to her replies, 30 June 1987, c. 69–70] Monitoring of standards of accuracy in pathology laboratories is undertaken by pathologists themselves, for example, through their participation in external quality assessment schemes. Target levels of accuracy for NHS pathology laboratories are not laid down centrally.
A revised health circular on cervical cancer screening which is in preparation will include guidance on arrangements for quality control in laboratories in which cervical smears are examined. We shall certainly take into account any lessons that can be learnt from the problems which arose in Liverpool health authority.