§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to seek reimbursement from manufacturers for those hip replacement prostheses which have been subject to early failures. [31378]
§ Mr. MilburnThe question of whether to seek reimbursement would depend on the particular circumstances. In respect of the early loosening associated with the Capital Hip implant, the manufacturer, 3M Health Care, has agreed to bear the full costs of identifying, assessing and treating individual patients.
512W
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research he has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relationship between the reliability of hip replacement prostheses and their purchase prices; [31374]
(2) what assessment he has made of the reliability record of currently available hip replacement prostheses; and what plans he has to issue guidance to the general public on this issue. [31377]
§ Mr. MilburnCopies of an Effective Health Care Bulletin on total hip replacement are available in the Library. This review found that some of the cheaper established implants had the lowest long-term failure rates over 10–20 years follow-up.
Two further systematic reviews have been commissioned through our health technology assessment programme: one to review the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of total hip replacement prostheses, and the other to review the factors influencing outcomes and costs of hip replacement surgery. Reports are expected later this year.