Ambulance waits for heart attacks and strokes remain 'dangerously' high in England

Waiting lists for heart care fell slightly for the second time in two months – but average ambulance response times for heart attacks and strokes remain “dangerously long”, new data shows.

Average ambulance response times for heart attacks and strokes were 42 minutes in November, latest NHS England data reveals. This is the same average for category 2 calls as in October and is the joint-worst monthly average for 2024 so far.

It breaches the amended NHS England average response target for category 2 calls of 30 minutes for 2024/25.

Before the pandemic, the response target for category 2 calls – which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes - was 18 minutes on average. However, the target was increased due to growing pressure on the NHS, rising cardiovascular need, and long delays in ambulance services.  

Today's figures also show:

• There was significant variation in ambulance response times across England, though every region breaches the 30-minute target response time. The region with the worst average response time for category 2 calls in November was the South West, which had an average response of 59 minutes.
• Today’s figures also show that the overall heart care waiting list fell slightly at the end of October, the second month in a row there has been a fall. However, the proportion of people waiting over 18 weeks for time-sensitive cardiac care stands at 40%.
• The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.   
• Latest NHS England figures show that the heart care waiting list stood at 420,945 in October, down from 421,324 in September. 
• The number of people waiting over four months for time-critical cardiac care also fell to 169,280 from 172,878 in September. 
• There was a slight rise in the number of people waiting over a year for cardiac care, from 9,372 to 9,396 in October.

'It's unacceptable'

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Clinical Director, said: “Heart attacks and strokes are life-threatening emergencies. With each minute lost, the risk increases of permanent brain or heart damage and even death. We’ve not seen the worst of winter in the data yet – that’s why it is so unacceptable that average ambulance response times are so high.

“Dangerously long waits for emergency heart attack and stroke care signal there are severe problems in every part of the health system. There is a modest fall in the numbers this month. However, heart care waiting times for assessments and treatments, such as stents and surgery, remain at a near-record high, even though heart disease care is time critical and waiting too long can cost lives.

“The recent yearly increases in premature cardiovascular deaths mandate action. Whilst the ambitious new target to eliminate long elective care waits is welcome, patients and families also need to see a specific Heart Disease Action Plan to make cardiovascular prevention, emergency treatment and elective heart care fit for the future.

“If you experience the symptoms of a heart attack, please don’t hesitate in phoning 999. It’s still the best thing to do and it could save your life.”

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