§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with arrhythmia; what steps he is taking to raise awareness of this condition in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [145070]
§ Angela SmithFigures are collected only on the number of patients admitted to hospital for the treatment of arrhythmia, not the total number diagnosed with the condition. There were 190 people admitted with cardiac arrhythmia conditions from April 2002 to March 2003.
Following a Review of Cardiology Services undertaken by the Department, an action plan containing a number of recommendations to improve these services was issued in April 2003. I have asked my Department to monitor progress closely.