BHF comment
Heart care waiting list rises again in England
The heart care waiting list rose yet again in January 2025, latest figures from NHS England show.
There were 425,398 people waiting for ‘routine’ cardiac care in England at the end of January, up from 423,245 in December 2024.
Since January 2024, the heart care waiting list has risen by 4 per cent (17,337). The list has more than doubled since January 2021, when it stood at 200,066.
Today’s figures also show:
• There was a slight fall in the number of people waiting 18 weeks or more, from 168,924 in December 2024 to 168,292 in January 2025. However, the proportion of people on the list who have been waiting this long for what is time-sensitive cardiac care remains at 40%.
• There was a slight rise in the number of people waiting over a year for cardiac care, to 9,021 in January, up from 9,009 in December. In February 2020, there were just 28 people waiting this long.
• The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.
• Average ambulance response time for heart attacks and strokes was 31 minutes in February 2025, down from 36 minutes in January, latest NHS England data reveals.
• The current NHS England average response target for category 2 calls is 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, not a change in clinical urgency.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Clinical Director, said: “It’s frustrating to see another rise in the already unacceptable heart care waiting list, even though we've started to see progress to reduce waits for other NHS treatment and care.
“Heart treatment is clearly time-critical, so long waits are dangerous. Four in 10 people on the heart care list are waiting more than 18 weeks – this puts people at risk of avoidable heart attacks, heart failure and even premature death.
“Heart patients need to see a National Cardiovascular Disease Plan to make emergency treatment and planned heart care fit for the future, and stop more people from getting heart disease in the first place.”