§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she offers to purchasers on breast and cervical screening services for women over 45 years. [32024]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe breast screening programme invites all women aged between 50 and 64 for three-yearly screening. Women aged 65 and over can ask to be screened every three years. Women aged under 50 who do not have breast symptoms cannot at present have routine breast screening by mammography.
The cervical screening programme invites all women between the ages of 20 to 64 for cervical cancer screening at least every five years. Women aged 65 and over who have not had clear smears within the previous 10 years should be invited for cervical cancer screening.
A substantial amount of quality guidance is issued by the Department and the NHS national screening co-ordinating team on a number of issues. These include the age range of women to be included in each screening 107W programme, management of the process and quality standards to be achieved. These are reviewed constantly.