Thrombolytic Treatment (Hansard, 12 May 2003)

§ Dr. Evan Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for the NHS on the wait for eligible patients between their call for professional help and receiving thrombolytic treatment. [111397]

§ Ms Blears
The national service framework for coronary heart disease and the NHS Plan, both published in 2000, set a service standard of 60 minutes from the time of calling for professional help for the administration of thrombolytic treatment to clinically eligible heart attack patients. This standard is reflected in the Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–2006, published in October 2002, which required the national health service to deliver a 10 percentage point increase per year over the national figure for 2002 of 38 per cent. of patients treated within the 60 minute target period.

§ Dr. Evan Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of eligible patients waited less than 60 minutes between their call for professional help and receiving thrombolytic treatment,(a) for the latest day for which figures are available and (b) for previous recent periods in the last 12 months for which data was collected. [111398]

§ Ms Blears
National data show that for the first quarter of 2003, 43 per cent., of clinically eligible heart attack patients were treated with thrombolytic drugs within 60 minutes of calling for professional help. The overall figure for 2002 was 37 per cent., rising from 32 per cent., in the first quarter to 38 per cent., 39 per cent., and 40 per cent., respectively in the subsequent quarters.
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§ Dr. Evan Harris
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has collated on the number of lives that could be saved by reducing the time between(a) the onset of symptoms and (b) arrival in hospital and the start of thrombolytic treatment. [111399]

§ Ms Blears
Studies involving more than 150,000 patients have demonstrated the overwhelming benefit of treating heart attack patients with thrombolytic drugs within 12 hours of developing symptoms. Early treatment results in 65 lives per 1,000 saved if patients are treated within the first hour and 37 lives per 1,000 if treated within the first two hours.