Nearly a quarter of a million people waiting for heart procedures and surgery
The latest data today shows that over 5.1 million people were waiting for planned hospital treatment in April 2021.
Of those, 230,278 were waiting for invasive heart procedures and heart operations – the highest number since the pandemic began.
Over 55,000 had been waiting over 18 weeks – that’s nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of everyone waiting for a heart surgery or procedure at the end of April.
The number of people waiting over a year decreased in April to 4,769 from a peak of 5,248 in March. However, the figure is still over 170 times higher than before the pandemic began when just 28 people were waiting this long.
Now, 24 people have been waiting over two years for heart procedures or surgery.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “Despite the exhausted NHS doing all it can, the pandemic continues to cause significant and mounting disruption to ‘routine’ treatment and care during the pandemic, even when it comes to heart surgery and procedures.
“Delays to vital heart care can cost lives. Tragically, we have already seen thousands of extra heart disease and stroke deaths in England during the pandemic, and monumental delays to care have likely contributed.
“Today’s figures may signal green shoots of recovery, but there’s a long way to go. Support for heart disease care is needed now to build back bigger, better, and fairer. A clear plan and further ongoing investment is urgently needed to help the health service tackle the backlog and beyond.”
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