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Heart Diseases: Yeovil

Asked by Adam DanceLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 24 April 2026UIN 127618

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help (a) reduce regional disparities in access in access to left atrial appendage closure and (b) the potential impact of such disparities on Yeovil constituents.

Answered by Karin Smyth

NHS England has not undertaken a formal national assessment of regional variation in access to left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO).

LAAO is a prescribed specialised service and is commissioned in accordance with NHS England’s published national clinical commissioning policy, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/clinical-commissioning-policy-left-atrial-appendage-occlusion-for-patients-with-atrial-fibrillation-and-relative-or-absolute-contraindications-to-anticoagulation-adults/

NHS England’s regional specialised commissioners and integrated care boards are responsible for the monitoring of activity, the reviewing of equity of access for their populations, and for addressing variation through local oversight and clinical networks.

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