§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in view of experience in the North-West regional health authority he is satisfied with the longevity and performance of lithium batteries made by Catalyst Research Corporation and used to power heart pacemakers supplied under the National Health Service; if he is giving any guidance to regional health authorities on this matter; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how many patients are expected to require early replacement of their heart pacemaker batteries as a result of the premature failure of the lithium batteries supplied by Catalyst Research Corporation; if he will estimate the additional costs to the National Health Service arising from such premature failures; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1984]: The lithium batteries now used in cardiac pacemakers are a considerable advance over the mercury-zinc cells used previously, both because of their longer life and because they are not subject to the sudden and abrupt failures which used to be hazardous to the patients using them. Evidence from the national pacemaker data bank has shown that one type of lithium battery made by the Catalyst Research Corporation, the 800 series, has a shorter life than was initially predicted by the corporation. These batteries are no longer being manufactured or implanted. About 1,000 patients still have pacemakers powered by 800 series batteries, but it is impossible to predict whether or when these will need to be replaced, since this depends on clinical as well as technical factors. We are not threfore able to estimate the additional cost to the National Health Service. In many cases it is likely that the actual pacemaker will be replaced under the manufacturer's guarantee. The available information about the likely life of these batteries has been circulated to the hospitals concerned in 1979, 1980 and 1982. Patients' lives should not be at risk since premature battery failure can normally be predicted at routine clinic visits.