To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated for varicose veins by (a) vein stripping open surgery, (b) endovenous laser treatment, (c) radiofrequency ablation, (d) foam sclerotherapy and (e) using a vascular closure device in the NHS in each of the last five years, broken down by strategic health authority area. (174636)

The information requested has been placed in the Library. Data for 2002-03 to 2005-06 are not directly comparable with data for 2006-07 because of changes and additions to the Office of Population Censuses and Survey's Classification of Surgical Operations and Procedure version 4 (OPSC4) codes and descriptions relating to varicose vein treatments.