Written question asked by Pauline Latham (Conservative) on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 March 2024. It was answered by Andrew Stephenson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 March 2024 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Heart Diseases: Clinical Trials

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she expects a funding decision for the Early Aortic Repair in patients Needing Endovascular/Open Surgery for Type B Aortic Dissection (EARNEST) randomised trial, following a favourable opinion from the National Institute for Health Research in February 2023.

Answer: The National Institute for Health and Care Research commissioned the Early Aortic Repair in patients Needing Endovascular/Open Surgery for Type B Aortic Dissection (EARNEST) trial to test the effectiveness of a surgical treatment for aortic dissection. NHS England received an Excess Treatment Cost funding request for this trial, and at the end of February 2024 they confirmed this funding in principle with the trial team. This will now enable the trial team to continue to progress the set-up phase for the study, and to subsequently begin recruitment.

Secondary information