The latest NHS England figures published today show that cardiac waiting lists rose to 421,433 at the end of May 2024 in England – an increase of 2,394 on the previous month. This is the highest total on record.
The heart care waiting list has grown by nearly 100,000 people since May 2022, when the waiting list was at 327,258 – a rise of 29 per cent.
There was a decrease in the number of people waiting over four months for potentially lifesaving heart care at the end of May 2024. The total was 165,352, down from 166,256 at the end of April.
However, 39 per cent of people waiting for heart care were waiting over 18 weeks for care at the end of May, a rise of 69,635 since May 2022 - despite heart care being time-critical.
The number of people waiting over a year for time-critical heart tests and treatments has risen to 11,017 from 10,528 in April. Just 28 people were waiting this long in February 2020.
The average ambulance response time for category 2 calls in June 2024 was almost 35 minutes. This is an increase on May and does not meet the amended NHS average response target for category 2 calls of 30 minutes for 2024/25.
Before the pandemic, the response target for these calls - which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes - was 18 minutes on average but was increased due to pressure and long delays in ambulance services.
The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.
Heart care crisis
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, our Associate Medical Director, and Consultant Cardiologist, said: “I find it frightening that long waits for time-critical heart care are putting people at risk of life-long disabling heart failure or death.
"That’s why it’s so disheartening to see the latest figures continue to show the worst access to vital, timely heart care in living memory. We cannot and must not get used to these unacceptable figures showing too many heart patients waiting too long.
“Getting to grips with this cardiovascular disease crisis and getting back to gold standard heart disease prevention, early diagnosis and treatment must be a priority for our new Government if they want to avert yet more avoidable heartbreak and loss of life.
"A heart disease action plan is essential to establish NHS cardiovascular care that is fit for the future – there is no time to waste.”
Our Hearts Need More campaign is calling on the new Government to prioritise cardiovascular disease, with more than 40,000 people backing the campaign to fix the cardiac crisis.
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