Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 21 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 November 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients undergoing angioplasty received titanium stents in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the reliability of stents. - Including fact that the Department does not hold this data centrally.

Answer: Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients undergoing angioplasty received titanium stents in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the reliability of stents. [134243] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health does not hold this data centrally. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently conducted an appraisal and provided guidance on the use of coronary artery stents. The guidance recommends that stents should be used routinely for people with either stable or unstable angina or with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Secondary information