§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps have been taken by his Department to monitor the response of health authorities to the report by the all-Wales health management efficiency group on cervical cancer in Wales, in regard to its recommendations for joint committees, for screening managers and specialist follow-up staff to be appointed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Nicholas EdwardsThe report of the management efficiency group was published at the end of February and its recommendations are complementary to those of the joint NHS-Welsh Office working party report of July 1985. A circular is to be issued shortly on the administration of the cervical cytology screening service and this will advise those health authorities which have not already taken steps to implement the recommendations of the joint report that they should now do so. It will also advise authorities to have regard to the management efficiency group's recommendations in drawing up their schemes.
The NHS directorate will be monitoring the authorities' progress in developing its cervical cytology screening services as part of the annual review process.