Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of interventional neuroradiologists required to meet NHS Long Term Plan commitments of providing a 24/7 mechanical thrombectomy service in all parts of the country; and how many practising interventional neuroradiologists there were as at 8 December 2021.

It is estimated that approximately 150 whole time equivalent interventional neuroradiologists are required to deliver resilient and sustainable thrombectomy services and ensure access to 24 hours a day, seven days a week mechanical thrombectomy. The latest number of practising interventional neuroradiologists is not currently available. However, this information is being collated for regional thrombectomy quality reviews which will be published in spring 2022.