§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cytology laboratories in Scotland are sending their cervical smears to other laboratories for interpretation. [55306]
§ Mr. GalbraithOf the 16 NHS Trusts providing cytology services, three are sending their cervical smears to other laboratories for interpretation. This is primarily due to staff shortages which have now been resolved in two of the laboratories and interpretation of the slides in the laboratories will revert to in-house reading.