§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to meet in full the demand for cardiac bypass operations.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe provision of services for patients requiring cardiac bypass operations is a health authority responsibility. In January 1984 and again in January 1985 health authorities were asked to develop facilities for coronary artery surgery as a priority within the acute sector. This is one of the recognised priorities within the resources generated by authorities' cost improvement programmes.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average percentage level of mortality in the course of, or immediately following, heart bypass operations; and which district had the highest level and which district had the lowest in the last full year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. WhitneyAccording to information provided in the United Kingdom cardiac surgery register of the Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, the mortality rate in all coronary artery bypass grafts performed in the United Kingdom in 1983 was 4.8 per cent. For all open heart operations, which include valve and cogenital heart disease operations as well as coronary artery bypass grafts, the mortality rate was 7.0 per cent. Information on mortality rates in individual districts is not available centrally.