§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many breast screening units are not able to screen all women in the 50 to 64 years of age category every three years; and if he will make a statement. [24338]
§ Mr. BoatengAs at July 1997, 32 units in England were having some difficulty maintaining a three-year screening interval and as a result some women are having to wait longer than three years between screenings. Most of the 32 are less than three months behind schedule.
The Government have made clear that adherence to national standards and rigorous quality control is essential to deliver an effective breast screening programme. Regional Directors of Public Health have been instructed to review the performance of the breast screening programme in their region and, where necessary, agree action plans so that national standards are met, including screening intervals.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what account his Department has taken in allocating funds for breast screening of demographic changes. [24340]
§ Mr. BoatengThe number of women eligible for screening is rising steadily as a result of the post-war baby boom, with a projected increase of almost 10 per cent. between 1997 and 2002. Demographic pressures on the health service as a whole are taken into account in discussion between the Department and Her Majesty's Treasury on public expenditure.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of women aged between 65 and 75 who attend breast screening. [24339]
§ Mr. BoatengIn 1995–96 (the most recent figures available), 57,535 women aged 65 and over were screened for breast cancer. This is a significant increase on the 1994–95 figure of 39,193, and the Government are delighted that more women than ever aged 65 and over are requesting National Health Service mammogram. We do not collect date specifically on the number of women aged 65 to 75 screened each year.