BHF comment
Waiting lists for heart patients continue to rise, NHS figures show
Hospital waiting lists continue to rise steadily, according to latest NHS England figures published today. The data reveal that 242,181 people were waiting for invasive heart procedures including heart surgery at the end of May – the highest number for May on record. Of those waiting, 52,484 had been waiting over 18 weeks – this is more than one in five (22 per cent) of everyone waiting for a heart surgery or other invasive procedure at the end of May 2021.
The number of people waiting over a year decreased in May to 4,252 from a peak of 5,248 in March – however, the figure is still 152 times higher than before the pandemic began when just 28 people had been waiting this long. There are now 28 people in England who have been waiting over two years for a heart procedure or surgery.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “Despite the NHS and its staff continuing to pull out all the stops we are still seeing ever rising cardiovascular waiting lists – even for vital heart procedures including heart surgery. These latest figures for May are the highest on record.”
“Delayed heart treatment is not only distressing for patients but it can also mean they become more unwell, or even die on the waiting list. Tragically, we saw thousands of extra heart disease and stroke deaths in England in the first year of the pandemic, and significant delays to care have likely contributed.”
“There are some encouraging signs that the length of time people are waiting is improving but the overall picture remains deeply concerning.
"The publication of the health and care bill earlier this week could help ensure the NHS is set up to address the unprecedented backlog in cardiovascular care. But along with legislation, we need substantial long-term investment in the overstretched NHS along with a clear plan to prevent more lives from being lost to treatable heart conditions.”