Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Minister of Health what is the cost per test of cervical cancer tests; what savings in cost can be made by working on a larger population area; and whether there is an optimum population size for a test area.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonCosts per test in hospital laboratories are not yet separately established; under present methods of examination it is considered that this service can best be provided and expanded as part of the existing pathology services, and the population area is therefore determined by the pattern of the existing service; savings in cost are more likely to arise from eventual changes in method of examination than from changes in population area under present methods.