§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients have(a) been eligible and (b) applied for treatment elsewhere under the Heart Choice Scheme; [97313]
(2) how many patients have received treatment (a) abroad and (b) in the independent sector as part of the Heart Choice Scheme; [97314]
(3) how many patients have been treated in a hospital that is not their home centre under the Heart Choice Scheme; [97312]
(4) how many patients waiting more than six months for heart surgery had a choice of alternative hospital in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000, (d) 2001, (e) 2002 and (f) 2003; [98929]
(5) how many choices of alternative hospital patients waiting more than six months for heart surgery have had since 1997, and what has been the average wait between referral and treatment in the alternative hospital. [99093]
§ Ms BlearsEarly unvalidated data suggest that between 1 July 2002 and 31 January 2003, 3,822 patients were eligible for choice and of these 1,423 patients chose to be treated in a different hospital. Further information will be placed in the public domain when data returns have been validated and analysed.