HC Deb 21 May 1985 vol 79 cc398-9W
Mr. Dobson

asked 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 Clarke

The information available relates to family practitioner committees acting on behalf of health authorities and is as followsComputerised cervical cytology call and recall (CR): —Liverpool, Barking, Havering and Brentwood, Isle of Wight, Rochdale, Calderdale, Derbyshire, Devon, Bedfordshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Cleveland, Sandwell. Computerised 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.

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