BHF comment
Over 100,000 fewer heart procedures and operations in England in 2020
Over 100,000 fewer heart procedures and operations were performed in England in 2020 compared to the year before, according to our analysis of NHS data published today.
Around 371,000 heart procedures and operations were performed in England in 2020 – a 22 per cent drop from 2019 when more than 473,000 were carried out.
The figures demonstrate the pandemic’s widespread disruption to potentially life saving treatment for heart patients. Examples of impacted operations and procedures include open heart surgery, such as coronary artery bypass, heart valve or congenital heart disease surgery, as well as other invasive procedures, such as fitting stents or balloons to open blocked arteries.
As the pressure on hospitals starts to ease, we believe resuming ‘routine’ heart procedures and operations across the country must be an urgent priority. When people with heart disease wait longer for treatment, their condition could worsen, which increases their risk of preventable death.
Latest figures show there have been at least 5,700 excess deaths from heart diseases and stroke in England since the pandemic began, and delays to care have likely contributed.
'The true scale of disruption is still unknown'
We are supporting calls for the Government to invest an additional £900 million a year above current funding levels for six years to help address the vast backlog of people awaiting care in England, including those with heart conditions.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “This sombre milestone highlights the pandemic’s snowballing effect on the backlog of potentially life-saving treatment for people with heart disease.
“Delays to heart operations and procedures are likely contributing to more deaths than expected. The true scale of this disruption is still unknown and could be felt for years to come.
“The NHS is doing all it can, but a lack of available care to treat heart conditions, including ‘routine’ surgery, must be addressed as the current wave recedes. To do this, more investment is needed in the short and long term to expand NHS care for people with heart disease.”