To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations have been made by his Department on (a) the use of digoxin in the treatment of heart conditions and (b) the monitoring of patients for whom it is prescribed. (162872)

Digoxin is most often used in the treatment of heart failure or atrial fibrillation. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidelines on Chronic Heart Failure (CG5, July 2003) and the Management of Atrial Fibrillation (CG36, June 2006) which included advice on the use and monitoring of this medicine.