Chamber
Plenary, 01 Feb 2007
01 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Cervical Cancer
I thank Ken Macintosh for securing such an important debate.
A lot of good words have already been said, and from the practical point of view of having done cervical screening I want to emphasise that it is most important that screening continues for years to come. It is wonderful to have a vaccine, but it is not a catch-all, and even if everybody agreed to its use, certain people would always slip through the net. For years to come, we will need the important cervical screening programme, which saves lives by itself.
The fact that a cervical screening programme has been established for years is great. Parliament has also passed the smoking cessation legislation. I did not hear anybody mention it, but the harmful chemicals from smoking are found in the cervix and it could be that smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer. As the Cancer Research briefing states, it has also been accepted that smoking reduces the activity of immune cells and cuts the body's immune system.
The contraceptive pill was also mentioned, but we forget that so many people have been on the contraceptive pill. Without going into any detail, that is also something that we have to consider.
We should remember and remind people that cervical screening is better than it used to be. The techniques are better and there are more positive results. There will still be people who have to come back because their screening test has not proved anything or gives a suspicious result, and we want to ensure that people to come back for repeat smears in that situation.
A lot of good words have already been said, and from the practical point of view of having done cervical screening I want to emphasise that it is most important that screening continues for years to come. It is wonderful to have a vaccine, but it is not a catch-all, and even if everybody agreed to its use, certain people would always slip through the net. For years to come, we will need the important cervical screening programme, which saves lives by itself.
The fact that a cervical screening programme has been established for years is great. Parliament has also passed the smoking cessation legislation. I did not hear anybody mention it, but the harmful chemicals from smoking are found in the cervix and it could be that smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer. As the Cancer Research briefing states, it has also been accepted that smoking reduces the activity of immune cells and cuts the body's immune system.
The contraceptive pill was also mentioned, but we forget that so many people have been on the contraceptive pill. Without going into any detail, that is also something that we have to consider.
We should remember and remind people that cervical screening is better than it used to be. The techniques are better and there are more positive results. There will still be people who have to come back because their screening test has not proved anything or gives a suspicious result, and we want to ensure that people to come back for repeat smears in that situation.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The final item of business today is a members' business debate on motion S2M-5359, in the name of Ken Macintosh, on cervical cancer and the human papilloma v...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament welcomes the licensing of the first vaccine against strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) responsible for around 70% of cases of cer...
Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
Lab
I thank all the members who are present for the debate and the 50 or so members who have signed the motion on cervical cancer and the human papilloma virus. ...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
The member will be aware that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation—I hope that I have got the name right—will have its next meeting on 14 Febr...
Mr Macintosh:
Lab
I agree whole-heartedly. The member has identified one course of action on which we can press the minister.The JCVI has still to decide on the vaccination pr...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Ken Macintosh on securing this very important debate and on his commitment to the cross-party group on cancer. I do not know whether Shona Rob...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
I am happy to speak in this debate on an issue that I think is going to become a medical hot topic. The first paragraph of the briefing that members have rec...
Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind):
Ind
I thank Ken Macintosh for securing such an important debate.A lot of good words have already been said, and from the practical point of view of having done c...
Mr Macintosh:
Lab
Does Jean Turner agree that, although the cervical cancer screening programme has been dramatically successful in reducing the number of deaths and in reassu...
Dr Turner:
Ind
Ken Macintosh is right, and I think that it was mentioned that familiarity sometimes breeds contempt. People can just come along and get their smear, but the...
Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I will be fairly brief because a lot of what I was going to say has already been said. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak, and I add my congratula...
Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I will be brief, because most of what I wanted to say has already been said. I, too, thank Ken Macintosh for bringing the debate to the chamber. As others ha...
The Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care (Lewis Macdonald):
Lab
I, too, thank Ken Macintosh for his opening remarks and for bringing this debate to the chamber, and I thank members for their constructive contributions on ...
Ms Watt:
SNP
Are any programmes specifically designed for women from ethnic minorities? I know that they find it particularly difficult.
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
Yes. I recognise, as has been said by a couple of members, that among certain groups that is an issue. Boards recognise that and deal with it on a case-by-ca...
Meeting closed at 17:44.