BHF comment
Heart care waiting list only sees small drop compared to other treatments
The heart care waiting list fell in April 2025, latest figures from NHS England show. There were 418,892 people waiting for ‘routine’ cardiac care in England at the end of April, down from 425,372 in March.
Today’s figures also show:
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There was a slight fall in the number of people waiting 18 weeks or more, from 165,558 in March to 164,919 in April. The proportion of people on the list who have been waiting this long for what is time-sensitive cardiac care is still 39 per cent.
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There was a slight fall in the number of people waiting over a year for cardiac care, to 7,875 in April, down from 8,028 in March. In February 2020, there were just 28 people waiting this long.
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The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.
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Average ambulance response time for heart attacks and strokes was 27:54 minutes in May 2025, up from 27:34 minutes in April, latest NHS England data reveals.
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The current NHS England average response target for category 2 calls is 30 minutes for 2024/25.
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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, not a change in clinical urgency.
Dangerously long waits
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Clinical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “Whilst there are some green shoots of recovery, the latest figures again show that far too many people are still waiting dangerously long when it comes to cardiovascular care. When it comes to the heart, such delays risk avoidable disability and can cost lives.
“We have an ongoing, unprecedented crisis in cardiovascular care, and premature cardiovascular deaths are therefore rising. This means targeted investment has never been more needed in heart disease prevention and care, as well as in science and technology that will bring future breakthroughs and fresh approaches to heart care delivery.
“The multi-year commitment announced in the Spending Review for more funding for the NHS and for science, is therefore a vital step forward and very welcome. Heart patients now need to see a specific National Cardiovascular Disease Plan in addition to the NHS 10-year and Long Term Workforce plans, in order to save lives and prevent cardiovascular disease - one of the UK’s biggest killers.”