§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of smear tests in England and Wales resulted in women being recalled as a result of inadequate smears in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [136875]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe number of inadequate smears that resulted in women being recalled are shown in the table.
Screening year Number of inadequate smears 1998–99 364,116 1999–2000 379,501 2000–01 359,441 2001–02 367,329 2002–03 357,707 On 22 October, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommended that liquid based cytology (LBC) should be introduced across the cervical screening programme in England. LBC is a new method of preparing cervical samples for examination and reduces the likelihood of an inadequate test from one in 10 to one in 100. The Government welcomed the recommendations, which mean that approximately 300,000 women a year will not need to be recalled.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of UK women participated in the Pap Screening Programme, broken down by those(a) under 30, (b) 30 to 49,(c) 50 to 59 and (d) 60 to 64 in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [136878]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe percentage coverage of the national health service cervical screening programme, broken into age groups and taken from the cervical screening programme statistical bulletin, is shown in the table.
Age range Percentage coverage 20 to 29 63 30 to 49 82.8 50 to 59 82.3 60 to 64 77.3 Coverage is the proportion of women resident who have had a test with a result at least once in the previous five years.