§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has met milestones one to four for primary care management of heart failure in the national service framework for coronary heart disease; whether he has plans to set further milestones; and if he will make a statement; [138188]
1107W(2) whether his Department has met milestones one to three for hospitals admitting patients for the management of heart failure in the heart failure section of the national service framework for coronary heart disease; whether he has plans to set further milestones; and if he will make a statement. [138189]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe national health service has made good progress on meeting the heart failure milestones set out in the national service frameworks. This has been supported further this year through the publication of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guideline on the management of heart failure. The Department has set a target for improved management of heart failure in the Planning and Priorities Framework for the next three years and has supported delivery of this target through publication of a toolkit of best practice for the NHS in October of this year.
The quality and outcome framework in the new general medical services contract will support further progress in this important area.