§ 21. Mr. Mullinasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the cervical cancer screening programme.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe are committed to reducing mortality from cervical cancer. Sir Roy Griffiths, deputy chairman of the National Health Service management board, is 239W leading a team to oversee the implementation of the Government's policies on cancer screening. Health authorities are on target to have computerised call and recall schemes for cervical cytology in operation by next spring. Laboratory and other back-up services are being expanded. The Department is currently consulting on revised guidance on all aspects of cervical cytology screening and related services, which it intends to issue later this year.
§ 24. Mr. Brightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the introduction of a cervical cytology call and recall system by the South Bedfordshire Health Authority.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe cervical cytology call and recall scheme for south Bedfordshire is operated by the Bedfordshire family practitioner committee, and came into operation in January 1985. The scheme covers the whole of the county, with costs being shared by the two client authorities, North and South Bedfordshire health authorities. The scheme, which is computerised, covers all women between the ages of 35 and 60 who are registered with a GP.
Following our request in February this year, the family practitioner committee and the district health authorities will be making plans to reduce the minimum age to 20.
§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he received an application from Quest for a Test for Cancer for funding cervical smear tests using an integrating microdensitometer; and when he expects to reach a decision on the application.
§ Mrs. CurrieAn application for DHSS funding for a research development project entitled "The screening of cervical neoplasia by quantitative assay of a hydrolysed DNA component present in the nuclei of cells exfoliated from the cervix uteri", was received from Dr. A. M. Sincock on 31 July 1987. This method would employ an integrated microdensitometer. Dr. Sincock is employed as a senior research fellow in the academic department of obstetrics and gynaecology in the Middlesex hospital; his work is currently supported by Quest for a Test for Cancer and the Newman Foundation. The application has been sent to academic referees. A decision on funding is expected by the end of November.
§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans further to assist family practitioner committees in meeting the Government's targets for cervical cytology.
§ Mr. NewtonI have now authorised an allocation of funds to four family practitioner committees whose existing equipment is in need of upgrading in order to meet the timetable to which the Government are committed. Those FPCs are:
£ Devon 46,000 Kirkless 40,250 Croydon 8,000 Bury 1,500