§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the relative costs and benefits of stents and drug eluting stents in(a) reducing the need for open heart surgery, (b) increasing the number of treatments undertaken and (c) reducing the incidence of restenosis after angioplasty. [59777]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 10 June 2002]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use of stents in May 2000. This guidance is due for review in April 2003. The Department referred drug eluting stents to NICE on 20 May 2002.
NICE will provide evidence based advice to the National Health Service in England and Wales on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of drug eluting stents compared to 'bare' stents, and on their appropriate use.