§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he proposes to introduce to encourage family doctors to screen National Health Service patients for cervical and breast cancers.
§ Mr. FreemanGuidance to health authorities on cervical cancer screening was contained in HC(88)1 of January 1988. Breast cancer screening was covered by draft circular DA(87)14 of March 1987 and the letter EL(88)P/48 of April 1988. Copies of these are in the Library.
The cervical cancer screening service is provided largely through GPs, whereas breast cancer screening is available through static centres and mobile units provided by health authorities. In both programmes GPs are involved in the issuing of invitations to eligible women.
To encourage GPs to achieve higher levels of cover, the item of service payment for cervical cancer screening is to be replaced by target payments. Such payments will be made for achieving or helping to achieve (for example with the family planning clinic) cover of 80 per cent. of the relevant practice population. By this means we believe that a significant increase will be achieved in the numbers of women screened and therefore in the numbers of cases of early detection and successful treatment of conditions which otherwise might have developed into cervical cancer.
In the case of breast cancer screening we would expect GPs to be involved in discussions on arrangements for the follow-up and treatment of any of their patients who have screen-detected abnormalities. Resource material for primary care teams, including a practical guide for GPs, has been developed by the Cancer Research Campaign. These information packs are being distributed free of charge to every GP practice in the country three months prior to eligible women in the practice being invited for screening.