HC Deb 16 January 1989 vol 145 cc34-5W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras of 6 December 1988,Official Report, columns 130–31, if he will place a copy of the guidance notes for health authorities on equipment requirements for breast cancer screening in the Library; whether these recommendations also apply to screening units operated in the private sector; what steps are taken to inspect private mobile screening units; how many staff are employed to perform those inspections; how many such inspections were made in 1988; and how frequently each unit is inspected, on average.

Mr. Freeman

Health authorities are asked to make relevant advice and guidance available to locally registered hospitals and nursing homes but they have no power to monitor private sector screening units. Copies of the guidance notes referred to by the hon. Member have been placed in the Library.