23% fewer heart operations and other heart procedures in England than before the pandemic

Nearly 10,000 fewer heart operations and other heart procedures were carried out in October in England compared to the same month before the pandemic began, latest NHS England figures reveal.

The number of completed heart operations and other heart procedures fell to 32,938 in October 2021, compared to 42,534 in October 2019 – a drop of 23 per cent.

The data includes emergency, urgent, and elective, or ‘routine,’ heart surgery and other heart procedures.

At the same time, hospital waiting lists for life saving heart care continue to grow, with 280,712 people waiting for heart tests and treatment at the end of October in England – the 16th consecutive month that numbers have risen.

Even before the pandemic, 233,081 people were on cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery waiting lists in England – and this figure had been increasing year-on-year.

The number of people waiting over a year for heart tests and treatment in England is now 3,798 –136 times higher than before the pandemic began when just 28 people had been waiting this long. 

And nearly 100 people have now been waiting over two years, the latest figures show. The BHF fears this is just the tip of the iceberg, with an even larger “hidden” backlog of heart care.

'Lives are at risk'

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “These NHSE figures again and again show significant disruption to ‘routine’ heart care – even for vital heart surgery.

"With rising Covid cases, the rapid spread of Omicron, and ever-increasing pressure on limited NHS staff, this is serious cause for concern

“‘Routine’ heart operations or other heart procedures can quickly become much more urgent, and dangerous delays may lead to heart attacks that needn’t have happened, disabling heart failure, or even premature death.

"The ongoing disruption is contributing to a snowball effect, which ultimately puts lives at risk.

“Heart patients need to hear how the vast, growing, and increasingly urgent backlog of cardiovascular care will be addressed.

"The Government must urgently share its elective care recovery plan for England, which must contain a specific strategy for tackling the shortage of heart disease doctors and nurses. Getting this right could prevent more death and disability from treatable heart conditions.”

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