BHF comment
Heart care waiting list at new record high in England
The latest increase means the number of people on the waiting list has risen by 68 per cent since February 2020, the month before the pandemic began.
Other findings include:
• There was a drop in the number of people who were waiting over four months (the maximum intended waiting time target) for potentially lifesaving heart care at the end of May – 141,030 compared with 143,735 at the end of April. Well over a third (36%) of all people on waiting lists for cardiac care are waiting over 18 weeks for care. The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.
• The number of people waiting over a year for time-critical heart tests and treatments rose to 12,468 – another record high. Just 28 people were waiting this long three years ago in February 2020.
• New NHSE figures show that average ambulance response time for category 2 calls (which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes) rose to 37 minutes in June 2023, from 32 minutes in May. The official target is 18 minutes, but the Government has set a new average target of 30 minutes over 2023/24.
Our comment
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director, said: “It is deeply troubling that with each new month, we see a new record broken for the number of people waiting too long for time-critical heart care.
“Long delays to cardiovascular care are dangerous - they can increase the risk of permanent disability due to heart failure and even lead to premature death. Tragically, as we reported last month, the extreme and ongoing pressures on NHS care is likely one of several factors contributing to nearly 100,000 excess deaths involving cardiovascular disease since the pandemic began in England.
“Demand for heart care is sky high, yet it can be harder than ever for people to access it in time. We need decisive action now to address this cardiovascular crisis by ensuring there will be enough skilled heart care staff working in suitable buildings with sufficient equipment, including heart MRI and CT scanners."