§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his Department's current priorities for screening in health care; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorPriorities for screening depend upon the risk for given disorders of identifiable groups in the population.
We have established two programmes to screen women regularly for breast and cervical cancers. Women aged between 20 and 64 will be invited for a cervical smear test at least every five years and women 50 and 64 years for breast X-ray (mammogram) every three years; breast screening will also be available to women aged 65 and over on request.
Besides routine antenatal care, screening may be offered, for example, to pregnant women for foetal neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities (in older mothers) and, for women from certain ethnic groups, the haemoglobinopathies. There are continuing programmes for systematic screening of infants and children for sensory, physical and mental impairments. In addition, screening for single gene disorders may be appropriate for certain families.
New opportunities for worthwhile screening will undoubtedly arise as a result of the development of new technologies in for example genetics and ultra sound. We also support the cancer screening evaluation unit which provides advice on existing and possible future schemes of screening for cancer.
Screening, of course, is not the only method by which ill health can be prevented.