Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients have been unable to access an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation bed after its use had been clinically recommended in each of the (a) last 12 months and (b) last five years.

Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) bed capacity is assessed and managed through an agreed standard operating procedure. During the period 1 November to 31 March, NHS England monitors capacity on a weekly basis (increasing this frequency to daily if required). No patient eligible for ECMO treatment has been unable to access an ECMO bed in either the last 12 months or the last five years.