§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to ensure that the number of keyhole operations is not reduced on financial grounds. [146769]
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§ Mr. DenhamIt is for clinician s to make a clinical judgment as to the best course of treatment for a patient, taking into account clinical and cost-effectiveness as well as patient preference. When making this judgment, we would expect clinicians to take full account of any relevant national guidance, such as that issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had(a) keyhole heart operations and (b) other heart operations on the NES in the last five years in England and Wales. [146770]
§ Mr. DenhamUntil very recently cardiac procedures were not carried out using minimally invasive therapy (keyhole surgery). Research is currently under way into the use of such therapy for heart operations.
The number of heart operations carried out in the National Health Service during the last five years rose by 20 per cent. The figures are:
Number 1995–96 153,784 1996–97 162,186 1997–98 161,508 1998–99 177,711 1999–2000 184,671