BHF comment
Heart and circulatory patients among millions on treatment waiting lists
The number of people waiting for NHS treatment could double to 10 million by the end of the year, according to a new report.
Hundreds of thousands of heart and circulatory patients have had non-emergency surgeries, assessments and tests postponed since the crisis began. This could have a devastating impact on peoples’ health, and even lead to an increase in deaths.
It could also lead to a tidal wave of increased NHS pressure as a result of patients becoming sicker while awaiting hospital investigations and treatment. Last Friday, we estimated that there have been at least 28,000 delayed inpatient heart procedures in England alone since lockdown began.
New data will be published tomorrow, which may reveal further increases to the waiting lists for heart and circulatory inpatient procedures.
It is vital that the immediate needs of heart and circulatory disease patients are addressed urgently by increasing the number of heart procedures, surgeries and tests that are carried out, such as procedures for pacemakers and stents, as well as heart imaging tests. In addition, NHS support systems should be restored for people with conditions, such as heart failure, which can help keep people out of hospital.
The report from NHS Confederation, which represents health and care decision makers, has said the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a growing backlog across all services, including delays to heart procedures.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “People with heart and circulatory diseases are already at increased risk of dying from Covid-19, and their lives should not be put at even greater risk by missing out on treatment for their condition.
"While doing all we can to fight the virus, we must continue to provide care for people with heart and circulatory conditions in a safe way.
“The current pandemic has resulted in a backlog of people with heart and circulatory diseases who have had hospital treatments and tests postponed. This backlog will only get larger unless it is urgently addressed, and the patients in need of treatment could get sicker as their care is delayed further.
"Decades of successful research means that we are able to save or improve the lives of many people with heart and circulatory disease. However, if hospital investigations and procedures are delayed too long, it can result in preventable permanent long-term complications, such as heart failure.
“We estimate that 28,000 inpatient heart procedures were delayed in England at the end of March, but this is just the tip of the iceberg, given that many tests and procedures vital to the care of heart patients are performed without admission to hospital. As a priority, it is crucial that the number of heart investigations and procedures increases.”