Cervical Smear Tests (Hansard, 3 April 1990)

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cervical smear tests have been carried out on women for each year of the past decade; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
The number of cervical smear tests carried out by the NHS in England and Wales in the last decade is shown in the table:

(thousands)

Year Number of smears

1977 2,545

1978 2,587

1979 2,749

1980 2,928

1981 2,999

1982 2,951

1983 3,200

1984 3,417

1985 3,897

1986 3,908

1987–88 4,322

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health authorities in England and Wales have a computerised recall system for cervical cancer smear tests; and if he will list them;
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(2) what measures the Government have undertaken to ensure that women are called and then recalled for cervical smear tests; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
All 190 health authorities in England have computerised call and recall systems for cervical cancer screening. All women aged 20 to 64 are to be invited for screening by March 1993 and recalled at least every five years. Cervical cancer screening in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average waiting time for results from cervical smear tests, by region; and if he will make a statement.

Number of deaths from malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri¹ in England and Wales by regional health authority (RHA) of usual residence. 1979–88

1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988²

England and Wales 2,080 2,068 2,017 1,932 1,959 1,899 1,957 2,004 1,903 1,942

RHA of Usual Residence

Northern 158 157 143 153 155 134 147 145 134 148

Yorkshire 184 194 175 159 168 165 177 150 159 144

Trent 193 209 205 185 177 188 191 204 168 196

East Anglian 59 65 70 64 66 54 59 69 67 68

North West Thames 100 111 90 104 98 119 91 127 88 101

North East Thames 140 113 120 141 136 117 130 141 104 124

South East Thames 144 140 143 122 129 125 123 151 134 131

South West Thames 113 117 98 105 82 82 86 76 91 89

Wessex 93 107 89 82 104 87 92 84 98 107

Oxford 88 62 61 67 59 54 73 71 76 81

South Western 146 109 120 125 129 124 129 121 146 122

West Midlands 185 204 200 189 191 213 185 174 197 206

Mersey 124 145 147 132 134 130 148 131 124 105

North Western 217 206 216 176 187 187 183 214 177 187

Wales 136 125 133 118 136 114 139 139 132 126

¹ Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision code 180.

² Provisional.

(thousands)
Year	Number of smears
1977	2,545
1978	2,587
1979	2,749
1980	2,928
1981	2,999
1982	2,951
1983	3,200
1984	3,417
1985	3,897
1986	3,908
1987–88	4,322

Number of deaths from malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri¹ in England and Wales by regional health authority (RHA) of usual residence. 1979–88
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988²
England and Wales	2,080	2,068	2,017	1,932	1,959	1,899	1,957	2,004	1,903	1,942
RHA of Usual Residence
Northern	158	157	143	153	155	134	147	145	134	148
Yorkshire	184	194	175	159	168	165	177	150	159	144
Trent	193	209	205	185	177	188	191	204	168	196
East Anglian	59	65	70	64	66	54	59	69	67	68
North West Thames	100	111	90	104	98	119	91	127	88	101
North East Thames	140	113	120	141	136	117	130	141	104	124
South East Thames	144	140	143	122	129	125	123	151	134	131
South West Thames	113	117	98	105	82	82	86	76	91	89
Wessex	93	107	89	82	104	87	92	84	98	107
Oxford	88	62	61	67	59	54	73	71	76	81
South Western	146	109	120	125	129	124	129	121	146	122
West Midlands	185	204	200	189	191	213	185	174	197	206
Mersey	124	145	147	132	134	130	148	131	124	105
North Western	217	206	216	176	187	187	183	214	177	187
Wales	136	125	133	118	136	114	139	139	132	126
¹ Assigned to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th revision code 180.
² Provisional.