Mr. Mackenzieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities are available in the Highland area, as covered by the Highland Development Board, for cervical cancer tests; and what plans are in hand to improve this service.
497W
§ Mr. William RossFacilities for such examination are now available throughout Scotland, including the area covered by the Highland Development Board, for all women with symptoms. The service is being steadily extended to women without symptoms in readily accessible groups, chiefly at ante-natal and postnatal clinics and family planning clinics, and to those referred by general practitioners. In the mainland part of the Northern Regional Hospital Board area, for the past year, facilites for examination have been available, to all women at risk, through their general practitioners. In Inverness Burgh an intensive community survey of general practitioners' patients is being carried out practice by practice. A further extension in community screening is being planned now for the outer islands starting at Stornoway in the near future. At Campbeltown during 1965 all women at risk were specifically invited to attend for examination and this survey is now complete. A similar invitation is about to be extended to women in other parts of the landward area of Kintyre. Further extension of community screening in the Highland areas as in Scotland generally, will steadily be developed as laboratory and other supporting facilities expand.