Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Minister of Health how many more technicians would be needed to set up a cervical cancer test service for Wales; how many technicians are being trained at present; and at what date it would be administratively possible to establish such a service.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonSeven technicians have been trained and are employed in hospitals on exfoliative cytology as part of the pathology services. On the best estimate the equivalent of 20 whole-time technicians would be required to provide a service for Wales. A further five technicians are being trained at present and the Board are going ahead vigorously with their training programme. I cannot estimate when a full cytology service114W might be established throughout Wales, but it will be introduced progressively area by area as soon as staff and facilities can be made available.