§ Mr. HurstTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart bypass operations were carried out in NHS hospitals in each year since 1995. [60546]
§ Ms BlearsThe number of heart bypass operations carried out in the national health service in England, each year since 1995, are as follows:
Coronary artery bypass grafting Number 1995–96 21,599 1996–97 22,700 1997–98 22,129 1998–99 23,996 1999–2000 23,698 2000–01 24,387
§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to raise awareness among general practitioners and coroners of cardiac risk in the young. [59631]
§ Ms BlearsWe have put in place major cross-Government programmes of work to prevent coronary heart disease by ensuring that children have access to a healthy diet, have opportunities to be physically active236W and are aware of the dangers of smoking. This includes investment from the new opportunities fund for a physical education and sports programme, a national school fruit scheme and a new initiative called Smokescreen to reduce smoking among teenagers. The Department is also developing a document on the health benefits of exercise which will aim to influence policy making and raise awareness about the importance of physical activity among primary care and local authorities.
In due course the children's national service framework (NSF) will produce national standards across the national health service and social ser ices for children. However, its scope has yet to be finalised and it is too early in the development of the NSF to advise what guidance may be made available to general practitioners.
In addition, the paediatric and congenital cardiac services review group has been established to consider the recommendations from the Kennedy report that specifically relate to health care services and treatment for children with congenital heart disease. The group has also been asked to recommend quality standards for paediatric and congenital cardiac services. The review group will report in 2002.