Written question asked by Andrew George (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 11 December 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 December 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 April 2007 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Heart Disease and Stroke Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her Department’s report of 5 December on the clinical case for reconfiguration in the context of heart disease and stroke services (1) how many hospitals in each of the strategic health authorities will provide the highest level of emergency diagnostic and treatment services for heart attack and stroke patients; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the proposed reconfiguration of accident and emergency departments on the future resources of ambulance trusts;

Answer: The Department is currently in the middle of a study involving 11 hospitals (10 primary angioplasty centres) to test the feasibility of extending primary angioplasty as the treatment of choice for heart attack in England. The study is looking at different models of service and different geographies. An independent evaluation is assessing workforce implications, costs and the patient experience of primary angioplasty. It will be for local commissioners to decide on their service configuration taking into account the lessons from this study. An interim report on the study is due in 2007 with the final report due in early 2008.The Department has also commenced work on an 18-month programme to develop a national strategy for strokes. We will be examining different models of care for different geographical areas and it will be for local commissioners to decide upon.The reconfiguration of accident and emergency departments is for the national health services locally to decide upon, following full consultation with local people. We would expect the development of any proposals for reconfiguration to include an assessment of the impact on the health economy as a whole, including the impact on ambulance trusts.

Secondary information