HC Deb 01 May 1991 vol 190 c235W
Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the budget allocation for(a) the employment of breast care nurses in England and Wales and (b) the training of breast care nurses in England and Wales.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Information on health authorities' budget allocations for the employment of breast care nurses is not held centrally.

The Royal Marsden hospital has received funding from the NHS breast screening programme budget to run courses for breast care nurses since 1987–88:

£
1987–88 17,000
1988–89 19,000
1989–90 20,000
1990–91 20,000

Arrangements in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of breast care nurses employed in each district health authority.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

This information is not held centrally.

Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether guidance has been issued from his Department to health authorities on the employment of breast care nurses.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Department of Health guidance, DA(87)14, asked health authorities to establish a breast cancer screening programme on the model set out in the Forrest report on breast cancer screening; copies of both the letter and the report are available in the Library. The guidance stated that "assessment" teams should be supported by a nurse trained in the specialist skills required to care for women who may have cancer. It is for health authorities to decide what further arrangements they wish to make for the employment of breast care nurses.

Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are one or more full-time breast care nurses employed in each breast cancer assessment centre.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

This information is not held centrally.

Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to extend the reconstructive breast surgery services in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

It is a matter for individual health authorities to determine how the resources available should be used.