BHF comment
Nearly 370,000 people now waiting for time-sensitive heart care
The number of people on cardiac waiting lists has risen to a record high of 369,204 at the end of January in England, the figures reveal.
The latest increase means there has been a 58 per cent rise in the cardiac waiting list compared to February 2020, before the pandemic began.
The figures also show that:
• 136,171 people have been waiting over four months (the maximum waiting time target) for potentially lifesaving heart care – 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.
• 9,332 people had been waiting over a year at the end of January – another record high, and 333 times higher than before the pandemic began when just 28 people were waiting this long.
• Average ambulance response time for category 2 calls (which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes) remained at 32 minutes in February. The official target is 18 minutes, but the Government has set a new average target of 30 minutes over 2023/24.
• Only seven ambulance services were able to meet the new average target of 30 minutes in February.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director, said: “It has now been three y ears since the pandemic started causing extreme disruption to people’s heart care, with heartbreaking consequences for people and their families.
"Waiting lists for planned yet time-sensitive cardiac care are at an all time high, while ambulances are not meeting target average heart attack and stroke response times.
“People who need heart care can’t wait – severe delays to their vital tests, procedures, operations and ambulances put them in danger of avoidable and permanent disability, and tragically can even cost them their lives.
“There is no single, one-off fix for this crisis but bold, decisive action is needed now. It's vital we see long-term strategic thinking that addresses the shortages in specialist cardiac staff , prevents heart disease from happening in the first place, and invests in ambitious cardiovascular medical research to prevent, diagnose and cure cardiovascular disease for generations to come.”
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