Survey of colposcopy service provided by genito‐urinary medicine in England and Wales

Abstract

To investigate the expansion of colposcopy services within genito-urinary medicine (GUM) in England and Wales since 1985. Data collected by postal and verbal communication from 189 genito-urinary medicine clinics in England and Wales in January 1990. Consultant and junior genito-urinary physicians practising colposcopy. Number of clinics providing colposcopy service; indication for colposcopy, treatment facilities available, waiting lists and training opportunities, compared with that in 1985. Of the 189 genito-urinary medicine clinics contacted, 60 provided a colposcopy service and 55 of these returned completed questionnaires. There has been a 67% increase in the number of colposcopies in use and over 50% of clinics have the facilities to treat cervical pathology. Waiting lists were minimal for both examination and treatment. Both men and women are examined with the colposcope for a variety of indications. At present, 52% of career grade GUM physicians practise colposcopy compared to 24% in 1985 and 94% of senior registrars compared with 42% in 1985 were in training or trained in colposcopy.