§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people participated in the limited implementation human papilloma virus pilot scheme in578W (a) Newcastle, (b) North Bristol and (c) Norfolk and Norwich; and if he will make a statement on the scheme. [136880]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonA pilot study of liquid based cytology (LBC) and human papilloma viruses (HPV) testing as triage within the national health service cervical screening programme began in April 2001 at three sites. The independent evaluation report on the LBC arm of the pilot was sent to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in April 2003. On 22 October 2003, NICE published its appraisal of LBC and recommended that this new technology be introduced across the NHS. The independent evaluation of the HPV arm of pilot is due to report in spring 2004.
Details of the number of people who participated in the pilot are shown in the table.
Number of people participating Pilot site HPV LBC Norfolk and Norwich 3,220 61,684 Bristol 3,858 81,155 Newcastle 5,109 80,116