§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to encourage health authorities to send written reminders to women over 64 years of age of the need for three-yearly screening for breast cancer.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe have no plans to encourage health authorities to send written reminders to women aged 65 and over to attend for breast cancer screening. The nationwide breast cancer screening service which we are introducing over the next three years is based on the conclusions in the report of a Government-appointed working group, chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forrest. The report recommended that the priority for any screening programme should be to offer an initial screen to as many women as possible aged 50–64. Women aged 65 and over will not be automatically invited for screening but they will be screened on request.