HC Deb 24 April 1989 vol 151 cc393-4W
Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all health authorities which operate a computerised call/recall cervical cytology programme for all women aged 20 to 65 years at three-yearly intervals.

Mr. Grist

I understand that Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan health authorities currently operate a computerised cervical cytology programme for all women aged 20 to 64 with a three-yearly recall period. All other health authorities have adopted a five-yearly recall interval. Government advice is that priority should he given to offering a first smear to all women within the target age group rather than reducing the screening interval at this stage. Nevertheless, the recommended recall frequency is being kept under careful review.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all those health authorities which have not yet called all women aged 20 to 65 years for a cervical cancer smear.

Mr. Grist

Since February 1987, when the Welsh Office sought to extend the existing cervical cytology screening programme in Wales to include younger women, all Welsh health authorities have implemented programmes to enable all eligible women to be offered a first smear from the age of 20, unless their GP has indicated that they should be excluded. As yet no authority has fully achieved this aim—although it is expected that some will do so this year.

The Department will be monitoring the progress of all DHAs towards this objective.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the uptake of women called for a cervical cancer smear for each health authority; and if he will list those health authorities which are unable to provide these statistics.

Mr. Grist

The administrative arrangements in use for running the cervical screening call and recall service in Wales have not permitted take-up ratios to be calculated with confidence. A new computer package which will provide such information has now been provided for all family practitioner committees' computers. Information on take-up rates will be forthcoming once the new system has acquired an adequate data base.