Research
Average ambulance response times for heart attacks and strokes have risen, new data shows
Average ambulance response times for heart attacks and strokes were 47 minutes in December 2024, up from 42 minutes in November latest NHS England data reveals.
They breached the current 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 an average of 18 minutes. However, the target was relaxed due to growing pressure on the NHS, and long delays.
The latest figures also show:
- There was significant variation in ambulance response times across England, though every mainland ambulance service breached the revised 30-minute target response time. The worst average response time for category 2 calls in December 2024 was East Midlands, which had an average response of 66 minutes.
- Today’s figures also show that the overall heart care waiting list slightly fell at the end of November 2024. However, the proportion of people on the list who have been waiting over 18 weeks for time-sensitive cardiac care still 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 420,589 in November 2024, down from 420,945 in October.
- But the number of people waiting over four months for time-critical cardiac care rose to 169,620 in November, up from 169,280 in October.
- There was also a rise in the number of people waiting over a year for cardiac care, to 9,885 in November up from 9,396 in October.
"Broken pipeline of care"
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 cannot accept such dangerous ambulance wait times as a new normal.
“This extreme disruption to emergency care reflects a broken pipeline of care for heart patients. There is damage and delay at every stage: from prevention and diagnosis, to treatment and aftercare. Heart care waiting times for tests and treatments remain at a near-record high, even though waiting too long can cost lives.
“This week we saw the Government publish a plan to tackle waiting lists, which is welcome. Alongside this, heart patients and families need to see a 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.”