AQW 4332/16-21 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health how many people were screened for atrial fibrillation in each Health and Social Care Trust in (i) 2013-14; (ii) 2014-15; and (iii) 2015-16 financial years.
Asked by Paula Bradshaw MLA on 30 September 2016
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 30 September 2016
- Answer due by
- 17 October 2016
- Answered
- 19 October 201619 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Screening for atrial fibrillation has been considered by National Screening Committee (NSC), an expert body that advises on screening programmes.
In July 2014, the NSC recommended that screening for atrial fibrillation should not be offered. This is because:
the treatment and care for people with atrial fibrillation is not optimal;
better evidence is needed about whether atrial fibrillation, detected at screening, carries the same long term risk of stroke as atrial fibrillation found in the context of other conditions; and
the test needs to be improved and standardised.
NSC will be commissioning an update review of any new evidence in 2017/2018.