§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the arrangement governing the delivery of breast cancer surgery.
§ Mr. SackvilleNo assessment has been made. Arrangements governing the delivery of breast cancer surgery is a matter for local decision.
§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has given to the Macmillan directory of specialist breast cancer services in the United Kingdom, a copy of which has been sent to her.
§ Mr. SackvilleNone yet. We are studying the Macmillan directory of specialist breast cancer services in the United Kingdom with interest.
§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce the United Kingdom mortality rate from breast cancer.
§ Mr. SackvilleWe were one of the first countries in the world to establish a national breast screening programme based on a call and recall system for women aged 50 to 64, through which we have promoted the production of guidance on the treatment of breast cancer.
In "The Health of the Nation—A Strategy for Health in England", the Government have set a target to reduce breast cancer mortality in women screened by 25 per cent. by the year 2000. The Government annually fund research into breast cancer and breast cancer screening; and have also funded health promotion material to increase breast awareness among women generally.
Additionally, the chief medical officers of England and Wales established an expert advisory group on cancer and commissioned it to review the delivery of cancer services, including breast cancer. Its consultative report "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services" published on 18 May 1994, recommends significant 322W change in the provision of cancer care and treatment. Copies of the report are available in the Library.
§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards implementing Macmillan's 10 minimum standards of care for women with breast cancer.
§ Mr. SackvilleWe welcome the Macmillan's 10 minimum standards of care for women with breast cancer; its campaign is entirely consistent with our desire to empower the patient and to have more choice in the treatment provided. The consultative document "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services", published last year, recommends that all patients should have access to a uniformly high quality of care to ensure maximum cure rates and improve quality of life. The report, revised in the light of consultation, will he considered by Ministers shortly.