Heart care waiting list rises by 63 per cent in three years in England

Latest NHS England figures published today show that the number of people on cardiac waiting lists has risen to a record high of 380,787 at the end of March 2023 – an increase of nearly 8,000 people since last month. 

The latest increase means there has been a 63 per cent rise in the cardiac  waiting list compared to February 2020, the month before the pandemic began. 

The figures also reveal:

• 139,472 people were waiting over four months (the maximum intended waiting time target) for potentially lifesaving heart care at the end of March – well over a third (37 per cent) 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, for the first time over 10,000 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.  
• New NHSE figures show that average ambulance response time for category 2 calls (which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes) fell from 40 minutes in March to 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.  

Severe disruption is worsening

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director, said: “When it comes to your heart, timely treatment can be the difference between life and death. That is why it is so shocking that month-after-month and year-after-year, we continue to see record numbers of people waiting too long for time-critical heart care. 

“Tragically, this severe disruption to heart healthcare is worsening and could mean more people living with avoidable heart failure and even lives lost. NHS staff are overstretched and there aren’t enough of them to tackle the enormous backlog of heart care. Decisive action is needed now to address this crisis, starting with the immediate publication of the Government’s long-awaited workforce plan and investment to recruit and retain heart doctors, nurses and other specialists.” 

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