§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many breast units using two view mammography at all breast screening rounds(a) reached and (b) failed to reach the national expected standard for breast cancer detection last year; [37527]
(2) how many breast units using single view mammography at incident breast screening rounds (a) reached and (b) failed to reach the national expected standard for breast cancer detection last year. [37528]
§ Mr. BoatengAll of the eight breast screening units in the United Kingdom currently using two-view mammography at all breast screening rounds met the target standardised cancer detection ratio last year. Of the 87 breast screening units in the UK using single view mammography at incident breast screening rounds, 62 achieved the target standardised breast cancer detection ratio.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the cost per cancer detected of single view mammography at incident breast screening rounds last year; [37530]
(2) what was the cost per cancer detected of two view mammography at incident breast screening rounds last year. [37532]
§ Mr. BoatengThe National Health Service breast screening programme has commissioned a study to look at the cost effectiveness of both single-view and two-view mammography. The results of this study are expected later this year.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of additional breast cancers which would be detected per year if two view mammography were undertaken at incident breast screening rounds in all breast units; [37529]
(2) what plans he has to review national guidance on the use of two view mammography for breast screening. [37542]
§ Mr. BoatengAll breast screening units currently take two mammographic views of the breast at a woman's first visit to the screening programme, and it is open to them to use two-view mammography at subsequent screening rounds.
The cancer screening evaluation unit, which is funded by the Department, is currently reviewing the advantages of two view mammography for all screening rounds. This review is due to be completed later this year. We will assess the case for requiring all units to take views at every screening round in the light of the findings of this review. This assessment will also take account of the outcome of research currently being carried out into other changes that might be made to improve the quality of the service offered to women. This research covers extending 194W the breast screening programme to invite women aged 40–50, routinely inviting women aged 65 and over, and reducing the interval between screens.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlie the higher standardised detection ratio for the first round of breast screening relative to subsequent rounds. [37832]
§ Mr. BoatengThe breast screening programme was introduced in 1988, and so far it has greater experience of taking and reading mammograms at a woman's first screen than at subsequent screens. In addition, since August 1995 all breast screening units have been required to take two mammographic views of the breast at a woman's first screen. Both these factors are likely to underlie the higher standardised detection ration for the first round of screening relative to subsequent rounds.