Written question asked by Evan Harris (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 30 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 May 2003. It was answered by Hazel Blears (Labour) on Monday, 12 May 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: 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. - Includes figures.

Answer: 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.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 111399; 405 c112W;405 c113W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Heart diseases NHS Medical treatments Patients Waiting lists Standards Thromboembolism
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk