§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for health what conclusions he has reached on the need for cholesterol testing of high risk patients; what requirements he makes for statistics to be kept on such tests either by hospitals or general practitioners; and what pilot screening programmes on patients at high risk of coronary heart disease are under way.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Standing Medical Advisory Committee has reported on the cost-effectiveness of opportunistic cholesterol testing. The committee's report, issued for consultation, attracted a large number of wide-ranging responses. We have received further comment about this and related issues concerning the prevention of coronary heart disease as part of the consultation on the Green Paper "The Health of the Nation" (Cm. 1523), on which we hope to respond with a Government statement in the spring. No data are held or stipulated centrally concerning such testing or on any pilot screening programmes of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease.