§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what restenosis rate was associated with the use of bare stents in diabetics in the last year for which figures are available. [102143]
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how many diabetics with heart disease would benefit from the use of drug eluting stents in percutaneous coronary intervention. [102144]
§ Ms BlearsThe current evaluation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence of the clinical and cost effectiveness of drug eluting stents will consider, inter alia, the implications of patient co-morbidity. Publication of the evaluation's results is expected during August 2003.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide guidance to primary care trusts on the use of drug eluting stents in patients who are at high risk of having restenosis. [102145]
§ Ms BlearsGuidance to clinicians is currently in preparation by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on the clinical effectiveness of drug eluting stents. Publication of this guidance is scheduled for August 2003. Pending publication, the national health service has standing guidance to take decisions locally on the best available evidence as to whether, and in what circumstances, to fund and deploy any particular intervention.