BHF comment
Heart care waiting list doubles in three years in England
The latest increase means there has been a 99 per cent rise in the cardiac waiting list compared to April 2020, the month after the pandemic began. In April 2020, there were 195,715 people waiting for cardiac care.
The figures also show that:
- There were 143,735 people were waiting over four months (the maximum intended waiting time target) for potentially lifesaving heart care at the end of April – well over a 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.
- The number of people waiting over a year for time-critical heart tests and treatments also rose to 11,557 – 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) went back up to 32 minutes in May from 29 minutes in April. The official target is 18 minutes, but the Government has set a new average target of 30 minutes over 2023/24.
'Shocking and dangerous'
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director, said: “It’s shocking and dangerous that the heart care waiting list has doubled in the last three years."The longer someone waits, the higher their risk of permanent disability due to heart failure or even premature death. Tragically, this is likely one of many contributing factors to the significant numbers of excess deaths involving cardiovascular disease over the last few years.
“Demand for cardiovascular care has never been higher yet it’s harder than ever for people to access it in time. More and more heart patients are waiting, and waiting longer.
"We need decisive action now, starting with the Government’s long-awaited workforce plan and enough investment to recruit and retain enough heart doctors, nurses and other specialists to work in fit-for-purpose facilities.”
WHERE TO SEEK HEART HELP