06.11.2007
Stoate, Howard

That this House welcomes the Circulation Foundation's campaign on ultrasound screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA); recognises that AAA, a widening and weakening of the main artery from the heart to the abdomen which causes massive internal bleeding when it bursts and is usually fatal, is the third most common cause of death for over-65s and that each year nearly 7,000 people, almost all of them men, die suddenly and without symptoms; notes the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland's work on making information about screening available in a variety of formats so that 65 year old men can make an informed choice; and urges the Government to follow the lead of the USA and implement the independent National Screening Committee's recommendation for AAA screening for all men at 65 years, a procedure which has been found to be very accurate in identifying those at risk and referring them for preventative surgery.