§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make recommendations to hospital authorities to reduce to a minimum the delay in admitting patients with suspected cancer.
§ Mr. NobleHospital authorities are well aware of the need to accord priority to patients with suspected cancer. The allocation of degrees of priority for such patients is a matter for clinical judgment.
§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women died from cervical cancer in Scotland in 1961; and what proportion of these deaths could have been prevented by earlier detection and treatment.
§ Mr. NobleThere were 250 deaths from cervical cancer in 1961. No estimate can be made as to how many could 141W have been prevented by earlier detection and treatment.
§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage routine cervical smear examination of women aged 25 to 60 years, and to provide the cytological facilities needed for such a service.
§ Mr. NobleHospital authorities were asked in 1960 to provide a service on a limited scale initially because of the shortage of trained staff. The technique is gradually being used more extensively but until more evidence is available as to the best method it is premature to make recommendations for a routine service.