Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 13 July 2016 (HL1005), whether the UK National Screening Committee has considered the timing of its review of the evidence for screening people aged 65 and over for atrial fibrillation; and whether there will be an opportunity for organisations to submit evidence to that review.

Where the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not recommend screening for a particular condition, the evidence is reviewed again in three years as part of its regular review cycle. The next evidence review for atrial fibrillation is expected to commence in 2017/18.

If any new published peer reviewed evidence emerges before the upcoming review, which may change the current recommendation, individuals or organisations may alert the UK NSC to this.