§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the use family practitioner committees and district health authorities have made of cervical cancer recall records passed on to them when the Southport scheme ended.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe national recall system operated by the NHS central registry at Southport proved ineffective. After consultation with health authorities this scheme was phased out. The cytology forms which were held centrally by the Registry until 1981 were sent to health authorities to be used as the basis of their own local recall arrangements. We have recently reminded health authorities of their responsibilities for ensuring that symptomless women in the priority groups who have at any time presented for a smear test are recalled at five yearly intervals.