§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times for patients to be seen for the first diagnosis at chest pain clinics after referral by a general practitioner were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [147268]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonRoll out of rapid access chest pain clinics started in 2000 and national coverage was achieved in 2003. Monitoring of performance began in March 2001, when 75 per cent. of patients were seen within 14 days of referral. The most recent data, for August 2003, showed 86 per cent. of patients seen within 14 days.