Heart waiting lists at the highest level on record in Scotland

The number of people on cardiology waiting lists is at the highest level on record in Scotland, according to our analysis.

As Heart Month begins, our new findings show that chronic underfunding for NHS heart care is likely to be halting progress made in recent decades.

We've released figures revealing fewer than three in 10 people are being seen within the six-week target time for echocardiograms - a key test to diagnose and monitor certain heart diseases - and fewer than half see a cardiologist within the 12-week target.

Almost 1,200 people have been waiting for more than a year for an echocardiogram and more than 750 have been waiting for more than a year to see a cardiologist.

We're warning that the longer people wait for diagnosis or treatment, the greater the risk of avoidable ill health, and even premature death.

Over 18,000 people died from heart and circulatory diseases in 2022 in Scotland – that's 50 a day – and the highest number of deaths since 2008. 

An increase in premature deaths and cardiovascular disease has also been seen amongst under-75s, with over 5,354 deaths from these diseases recorded in 2022.

Scotland's biggest killer

We say this is predominantly caused by long term underfunding of heart disease in Scotland. Investment into heart disease service improvement was just £3 million over the last 10 years although each year Scotland spends an estimated £880 million on cardiovascular disease healthcare costs.

The charity also points to the Covid-19 pandemic, widening health inequalities in Scotland, and longstanding and extreme pressure on the NHS in the past decade.

Jonathan Roden, our Policy and Public Affairs Manager in Scotland, said: “For 60 years, deaths from heart disease were on the decline in Scotland, in part thanks to the medical breakthroughs funded by the BHF, but worryingly that trend has reversed.

“Over the last 10 years, dedicated, world-leading health professionals have worked with the Scottish Government to develop plans to improve heart disease services, but these plans have been repeatedly held back by chronic underinvestment.

“Cardiology services are under more pressure than ever, and more patients are waiting longer than ever, which is leading to poorer patient outcomes. The Scottish Government needs to act now and invest in cardiology services, to tackle the trend of increasing cardiac deaths, including coronary heart disease, which is still Scotland’s biggest killer.”

Our analysis, using data from a Freedom of Information request and cardiology outpatient waiting times, has found a worrying trend across the cardiology pathway.

Chronic underinvestment

Between March 2019 and September 2023, the number of people waiting for an outpatient appointment rose from 8,562 to 23,027. In the last year alone, the waiting list has grown by more than 5000.

Freedom of Information data shows that between June 2020 to June 2023 the number of people waiting for an echocardiogram increased from 11,745 to 19,054.

Since 2014 the Scottish Government has published two plans to improve heart disease services in Scotland – the 2014 Heart Disease Improvement, and the Heart Disease Action Plan, published in 2021. These were developed in conjunction with us and health professionals across the country and received a total of £3 million investment from Scottish Government.

But the charity says further increased investment is necessary to ensure that services are fit for the current and future challenges.

David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “People are experiencing debilitating health issues or losing their lives, before they even get the care they need. There is a human impact behind these figures – families dealing with grief and loss, worry and anxiety.

“This is a fraction of the funding needed to meet the challenges of cardiovascular disease in Scotland. A decade of chronic under investment and lack of focus by the Scottish Government, has left cardiology services unable to meet the pressures they are facing in Scotland."

Professor David Newby, from the BHF Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Edinburgh and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “It is hugely concerning that patients are experiencing such delays within cardiology because we know this can lead to missed opportunities for treatment, unchecked development of more advanced disease, and poorer outcomes for our patients.

“During these times of extreme pressures, we need renewed focus and support for the cardiology teams across the country so that they can deliver the best care and improve patient outcomes.

“This issue needs to be taken seriously, with steps made to tackle systematic challenges and to ensure patients receive the care they need and deserve.”

OUR WORK IN SCOTLAND