§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 29 April, Official Report, columns 49–51 about cervical screening and the Minister for Health's press release No. 85/113 of that date, which health authorities are currently using computers for call and which for recall only; what are the estimated dates on which those health authorities having firm plans to computerise expect to do so; which health authorities have a backlog of more than three months in processing smear tests in pathology laboratories; and if he will list the health authorities with the best record for providing women with cervical cancer screening and the criteria on which this assessment was made.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information available relates to family practitioner committees acting on behalf of health authorities and is as follows
Computerised cervical cytology call and recall (CR): —Liverpool, Barking, Havering and Brentwood, Isle of Wight, Rochdale, Calderdale, Derbyshire, Devon, Bedfordshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Cleveland, Sandwell.399WComputerised cervical cytology recall only (R): — Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Avon, Stockport, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, Northampton, Rotherham, Kent, Croydon, Wigan.
FPC's with plans to computerise and estimated dates: Buckinghamshire CR 1 July 1985 Northampton CR 1 July 1985 Rotherham CR 1 January 1986 Croydon CR 1 June 1985 Wigan CR 1 December 1985 Durham R 1 July 1985 Suffolk R 1 July 1985 Bromley R 1 December 1985 North Tyneside R 1 January 1986 Leicestershire CR 1 June 1985 Northumberland CR 1 June 1985 Nottingham CR 1 August 1985 Warwickshire CR 1 August 1985 Coventry CR 1 October 1985 Kirklees CR 1 October 1985 Hampshire CR 1 December 1985 Hereford and Worcester CR 1 December 1985 Wiltshire CR 10 December 1985 We do not have the detailed local information requested on laboratory work load.
We do not maintain a league table of performance by health authorities in cervical cytology. We are however concerned that some authorities have not fully implemented the guidance set out in health circulars (81)14 and (84)17, and my recent announcement was based on the need to ensure that all health authorities run an effective cervical screening programme.