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Mr. Canavan
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take action to reduce the waiting times for patients who require heart surgery. [12428]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
Since November 1994 a national guarantee has been in place which ensures that all adult patients who are referred for cardiac surgery receive it within 12 months. It is for the patient's clinician to determine clinical priority and of course patients requiring emergency or urgent treatment are seen much sooner than the 12-month limit. It is a matter for health boards to purchase the appropriate level of services to ensure that guarantees are met.