§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how he plans to incorporate guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on drug eluting stents into the National Standards Framework on coronary heart disease; [145783]
(2) whether his Department has estimated the cost to the NHS of the increased use of drug eluting stents following guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [145782]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe national service framework for coronary heart disease (NSF CHD), published in March 2000, sets the agenda for the modernisation of CHD services over a 10 year period. Standard 10 deals with revascularisation and states that
NHS Trusts should put in place hospital-wide systems of care so that patients with suspected or confirmed coronary heart disease 188W receive timely and appropriate investigation and treatment to relieve their symptoms and reduce their risk of subsequent coronary events".The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on drug eluting stents (DES) provides clinical guidance highlighting patients who would most benefit from the treatment. NICE guidance is for healthcare professionals and patients and their carers to help them make decisions about treatment and healthcare and to inform their delivery of the NSF standard.
The NICE guidance estimates that the additional cost of drug eluting stents would be between £6 million and £7.2 million per year, assuming the use of about 12,000 DES costing an additional £500 to £600 each.