§ 26. Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what delay there has been in carrying out cervical smears as a result of the shortage of cytology staff' at the department of pathology in the University of Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayI understand that the department of pathology asked general practitioners in the area not to send routine smears from asymptomatic women during August and September while efforts were made to overtake a heavy backlog of work. The situation has since been remedied by the recruitment of extra staff to the department, and I am informed that non-urgent smears are now being reported on within two weeks.