BHF comment
Numbers of heart patients waiting over four months at record high
We have responded to the latest NHS England performance figures published today, which show that the number of people on cardiac waiting lists has risen to a record high of nearly 372,803 at the end of February in England.
The latest increase means there has been a 60% rise in the cardiac waiting list compared to February 2020, the month before the pandemic began.
The February data from NHS England also shows:
- 136,596 people were waiting over four months (the maximum waiting time target) for potentially lifesaving heart care at the end of February – more than one third (37%) of all people on waiting lists for cardiac care. The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.
- Shockingly, 9,557 people were waiting over a year for time-critical heart tests and treatments – another record high. Just 28 people were waiting this long three years ago in February 2020.
- Average ambulance response times for category 2 calls (which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes) rose to 40 minutes in March. The official target is 18 minutes, but the Government has set a new average target of 30 minutes over 2023/24.
- Only the Isle of Wight ambulance service was able to meet the new average target of 30 minutes in March in England.
The same tragic story each month
Commenting, our associate medical director Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan said: “Each month, we are seeing far too many people waiting far too long for time-critical heart care – whether that’s hours for an ambulance, too many weeks for a heart test that could unlock lifesaving treatment, or even a year for a heart procedure, including heart surgery. Again and again we are seeing the same tragic story unfold each month - these ongoing and extreme delays to the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular disease are costing lives and leaving families devastated.
“NHS staff are doing all they can, but they are overstretched and there simply aren’t enough of them to address the vast and ever-growing backlog of heart care. Heart patients urgently need to hear how their care will be delivered now and in the future, which is why it is vital for the Government to immediately publish its long-awaited NHS workforce plan and start addressing this urgent situation.”