Cervical Cytology (Hansard, 7 February 1989)

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the reason for Argyll and Clyde health board employing private contractors for cervical cytology; what information he has on the qualifications and training of the staff of the private company; and whether the health board will be liable for any errors of the private company.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
Argyll and Clyde health board engaged the services of a private firm to screen a number of cervical cytology smears during the period January to March 1988 in order to deal with a temporary backlog in cervical smears reporting which had developed in one of the board's laboratories. The board rightly wished to avoid any lengthy delay in informing women of the results of their smears—delay which could cause unnecessary anxiety in those women concerned.
Officers of the board satisfied themselves that the firm concerned employed suitably qualified staff and operated a proper quality control system. The board accepts liability for any errors resulting from the arrangement on the same basis as it accepts liability for smears reported by its own laboratories.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1986 the amount of money spent by each health board on training laboratory staff for cervical cytology screening; what assistance his Department has given; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The training of laboratory staff is a matter for individual health boards to determine and this information is not held centrally.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to provide additional funding to health boards for cervical cytology.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
The Government are providing additional funds—about £5 million in the current year—to assist all health boards to improve their computer facilities. This will enable boards to establish a fully computerised call and recall system for cervical cancer screening. Computer software is also being provided to boards free of charge.