HC Deb 14 April 1994 vol 241 cc280-1W
Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the implementation by(a) the Argyll and Clyde health board and (b) the Scottish Office of the recommendations of the report into the maladministration of the cervical smear test programmes at the Inverclyde royal hospital, Greenock; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stewart

The Argyll and Clyde health board is implementing the recommendations addressed to it through a comprehensive purchasing plan based on service specifications for all components of the board's cervical screening programme including targets and quality control procedures. A purchasing plan has been approved by the board and the specification of service required has now been issued to provider units.

A task force is currently considering the feasibility and the implications of rationalising the cervical cytopathology services and an extensive consultation exercise is under way involving relevant laboratory consultants, clinicians and independent experts. The task force is expected to report with recommendations to the board by May.

Those recommendations addressed to the Scottish Office Home and Health Department are being taken forward. The Common Services Agency has been asked to set up the new central co-ordinating unit for cervical and breast screening services at a cost of £100,000 per annum. The post of national medical director to head the unit was advertised in December 1993 but it was not possible to appoint a suitable candidate. Arrangements are in hand to re-advertise the post for either a full-time or two part-time appointments. Work is proceeding on setting out a management framework and a programme of work for the central monitoring unit.

A working group to formulate the policy for implementation of internal quality control in all laboratories carrying out cervical cytopathology has been set up under the chairmanship of one of the Department's medical officers, and comprises members from the Royal College of Pathologists, the British Society of Clinical Cytology, the Institute of Biomedical Science and representatives from each of the three other United Kingdom Departments of Health. The Health Education Board for Scotland—HEBS—has produced a new promotional leaflet encouraging women to attend for screening. This was distributed to all GPs and clinics via health boards at the end of March.

Revised guidance, covering management responsibilities, quality controls, rationalisation of laboratories, staffing and appropriate levels of training is being prepared and will be issued following agreement with the appropriate professional bodies.

Progress on implementation of the recommendations will continue to be monitored by the management executive.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the investigation conducted by Dr. Euphemia McGoogan and others into the maladministration of the cervical smear test programme at the Inverclyde Royal hospital, Greenock; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 13 April 1994]: The cost of the inquiry including the publication of the report, into cervical cytopathology at Inverclyde Royal hospital, Greenock, conducted by Dr. McGoogan and the inquiry team, was £41,500.