HC Deb 09 February 2000 vol 344 c195W
Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is investigating the inappropriate prescribing on a long-term basis of steroidal drugs. [108609]

Mr. Denham

This topic is not included in the current work programme for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Birmingham Heath Authority area West midlands England
Patients waiting for cardiothoracic surgery at September 1999. 468 1,948 14,889
Total finished consultant episodes where an operation was recorded and main specialty was cardiothoracic surgery in 1997–98. 3,730 6,497 52,358
Average waiting time of patients admitted for cardiothoracic surgery in the quarter July to September 1999 (days) 81.5 89.6 118.1

There has been major investment to provide additional cardiac surgery capacity in Birmingham and the West Midlands.