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Written question asked by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Wednesday, 26 March 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 March 2008. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Chlamydia: Screening

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008, Official Report, column 259W, on Chlamydia screening, (1) what steps his Department plans to take against those areas that fail to meet their targets for screening 15 per cent. of their 15 to 24 population in 2007-08;
Answer

Officials within the Department have discussed Chlamydia screening with strategic health authorities (SHAs) in both formal and informal settings on a number of occasions within the last six months. The following table shows the dates when officials met with SHAs and at most of these meetings Chlamydia was discussed. The content of the discussions focused on the performance of SHAs in relation to Chlamydia screening.

Month Dates
2007
October 2, 10, 16, 17, 19, 23, 26
November 2, 6, 14, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29
December 3, 11, 12, 19, 20
2008
January 10, 11, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25
February 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 26, 29
March 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 27

Performance on Chlamydia screening is one of the indicators used to inform primary care trusts rating through the Healthcare Commission Annual Health Check in 2007-08. Reducing Chlamydia prevalence has been identified as a national priority target for local delivery in the national planning guidance for the national health service in the 'NHS Operational Plans 2008-09 to 2010-11', which highlights the Government's continuing commitment to tackling this infection. A copy of the guidance is available in the Library. We will continue to work through performance management routes to support delivery of this target and increase screening volumes.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
474 c1987W; 197820
Session
2007-08
Related items
Chlamydia: Screening
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Screening Chlamydia
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk