HC Deb 02 May 1989 vol 152 c70W
Mr. Robin Cook

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

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 24 April 1989]: A central computerised programme has been developed for the whole of Northern Ireland to call women aged 20–65 for cervical screening at five-yearly intervals. The system started operating in the Eastern board last autumn, is being introduced this month in the Western board and is due to commence in the Northern and Southern boards later this year.

Mr. Robin Cook

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

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 24 April 1989]: As the cervical screening programme is designed to call women at five-yearly intervals, all women in the 20 to 65 age group will not have been called until five years after the introduction of the computerised call system.

Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the uptake of women called for a cervical cancer smear for each board; and if he will list those boards which are unable to provide these statistics.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 24 April 1989]: Uptake figures for women screened under the computerised call and recall system are not yet available.