Volume 15, Number 5, September-October 2008

Delivering PCI in the UK – need for strategic thinking and a quality agenda
Mark A de Belder

The UK has witnessed a seismic shift in the delivery of healthcare to patients with coronary heart disease, but there is still a lot to be done. Promoted by the National Service Framework (NSF), and supported by a £775 million capital programme from the Department of Health and Lottery Funding (£122 million towards new cath labs), waiting lists have been slashed and patients are able to be investigated and treated nearer to home. In its annual audit reports for 2001, the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) reported on activity in 64 percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) centres and 62 centres performing diagnostic invasive procedures only. The report for 2006 included data from 91 PCI centres and another 90 diagnostic-only centres.

Br J Cardiol 2008;15:227.

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