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Atrial Fibrillation: Surgery

Asked by Mr Tanmanjeet Singh DhesiLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 29 June 2026UIN 11438

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate he has made of the number of atrial fibrillation patients eligible for a left atrial appendage occlusion procedure in (a) Slough and (b) the South East.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a prescribed specialised service and is commissioned in accordance with NHS England’s published national clinical commissioning policy, which is 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, reviewing of equity of access for their populations, and addressing variation through local oversight and clinical networks. Therefore, assessment would best be made at local levels.

For the same reason, information on the number of patients eligible for LAAO in Slough or the South East is not held centrally by the Department.

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