§ Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider granting additional funding to Northern Ireland health authorities to meet the increased demand for smear tests.
§ Mr. NeedhamI can assure the hon. Member that I shall take account of the pressures on cervical screening services in considering the financial allocations to health and social services boards for 1986–87.
§ Mr. Bellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to clear the backlog of smear tests at the Eastern health board; and what steps will be taken to prevent a similar backlog from developing.
§ Mr. NeedhamAt the beginning of January the board introduced an eight-week moratorium on the taking of routine screening smears. It now intends to recruit additional staff to assist with the processing of cervical smears. In the longer term the decentralisation of laboratory services from the eastern area will reduce the work load on the laboratories concerned.