BHF comment
New Government must commit to a heart disease action plan
Sir Keir Starmer’s new Government must seize the moment and tackle the ongoing heart care crisis head-on, we're urging today.
The Labour Party secured a majority of seats in the House of Commons in the 2024 general election, and so will be forming the new Government.
MPs will be sworn in next week, with the King’s Speech set to be delivered on 17 July at the State Opening of Parliament.
As part of its Health Mission, the Labour Party has previously pledged to reduce deaths from heart attack and stroke by 25 per cent over the next decade.
To reach this goal, Labour pledged to implement a delayed ban on junk food adverts before the 9pm watershed – a measure that the BHF and partner organisations have long been calling for to help address stubbornly high obesity rates.
Labour have also called for "big shifts" in approach for the NHS, with a focus on “game-changing” medical science and technology, community care, and prevention. The party has also said it will aim to bring down waiting times for treatment and care, and help to create a healthier environment for everyone.
We are urging Labour to stand by these manifesto promises and have a laser-like focus on saving and improving more lives from cardiovascular disease, which they recognise as being one of the UK’s biggest killers.
No time to waste
The BHF believes a dedicated heart action plan is needed. We encourage the new Government to work with us to better prevent cardiovascular disease, address long heart care waiting lists, and supercharge research.
Putting these plans into practice would help deliver the change needed to save more lives from deadly heart and circulatory diseases.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, our Chief Executive, said: “We look forward to working with the new Government on saving more lives from cardiovascular disease, one of the UK’s biggest killers. There’s no time to waste – progress is reversing to reduce death and disability from heart and circulatory diseases, and a terrifying number of people are waiting too long for time-sensitive heart care.
“There are no quick fixes, but our new Government must rise to the challenge to keep families and loved ones together for longer. A heart disease action plan can drive forward the change needed.”
Professor Bryan Williams OBE, our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, said: “I look forward to working with the new Health and Science Secretaries in their new roles.
"I am in my 40th year as an NHS doctor, and it has never been in more need of change. The inexorable rise in demand on the health service will not change, so keeping people healthy and doubling down on prevention of cardiovascular disease in the first place is vital.
“Science must also be a priority for the new Government. I have seen first-hand how effective UK science can be in translating new discoveries into better patient care, with our universities and research in the NHS providing vital foundations.
"This Government must work to unleash the potential of our life sciences sector, which can improve the health and wealth of the nation with the right strategy and investment.”