HC Deb 25 November 1988 vol 142 c59W
Mr. Frank Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list those districts which are planned to have(a) basic screening units and (b) specialist assessment teams; and if he will give the latest estimates when each team and each unit will commence service;

(2) if he will list those districts which are planned to have (a) mobile screening units and (b) static screening units;

(3) if he will list those districts where women are already being called by a computerised system for breast cancer screening; and if he will give the age bands of the women being called.

Mrs. Currie

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Batley and Spen (Mrs. Peacock) on 1 November 1988 at columns596–97.

All family practitioner committees have the necessary computer software to provide screening offices with invitation lists. Precise arrangements to phase the calling of the women aged between 50 and 64 resident in the districts served by the initial screening centres over the next three years will vary from unit to unit.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give, at current prices, the cost of a mobile basic screening unit.

Mrs. Currie

The cost of mobile mammography screening equipment varies in accordance with the complexity of the procedure that it is designed to carry out. Typical costs exclusive of VAT for the mobile trailer, X-ray machine, electricity generator and film handling system would range from £63,000 to £88,000. The cost of the towing vehicle is not included in these figures.

Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the measures being taken to adapt family practitioner committee computerised call/recall cervical cancer screening programmes to accommodate the breast cancer screening programme.

Mrs. Currie

All family practitioner committees in England and Wales now have the ability to provide health authorities with computerised call/recall facilities to enable them to carry out their breast screening programme.