Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the article entitled Aortic stenosis post-Covid-19: a mathematical model on waiting lists and mortality, by Stickels and others, published in the British Medical Journal on 16 June 2022, whether his Department is taking steps to support the immediate expansion of aortic stenosis treatment services in 2022-23.

NHS England recommends transcatheter aortic valve implantation for adults unable to receive heart valve surgery, which treats aortic stenosis through the implant of a valve into the heart. In addition, we have committed £2.3 billion to launch at least 100 community diagnostic centres by 2024/25 to improve the early detection and diagnosis of heart valve disease, including aortic stenosis and reduce waiting times. The National Health Service is investing in cardiac networks to support improvements to the care pathway. These networks have been developed to take an evidenced based, clinically led, whole pathway approach to improvement from prevention, diagnosis, treatment and end of life care.