Over 100,000 people now waiting over four months for time-sensitive heart care

Latest NHS England figures reveal that the number of people on cardiac waiting lists grew to a record 333,915 at the end of June in England, 8,347 more than the previous month, and the 24th consecutive month where an increase has been seen.

For the first time, over 100,000 people have been waiting over four months for potentially lifesaving heart care - the maximum waiting time target.

That represents 31 per cent of all people on waiting lists for cardiac care. The longer people wait for treatment, the higher their risk of becoming disabled from heart failure or dying prematurely.

The NHSE figures also reveal:

• 5,867 people had been waiting over a year as of June - a record high, and 210 times higher than before the pandemic began when just 28 people were waiting this long.
• Average ambulance response time for category 2 calls (which includes suspected heart attacks and strokes) have risen to 59 minutes in England. The target is 18 minutes.
• The region with the highest average ambulance response time for category 2 calls is the East Midlands, where the average time is 81 minutes.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, our Chief Executive, said: "Today's figures paint a stark picture of the nation's heart care.

"We continue to hear heartbreaking stories from people experiencing agonising waits for ambulances and stressful delays to heart care. Long delays to cardiac care can have tragic, even fatal, consequences, with the physical and mental toll being paid by heart patients and their loved ones.

"NHS staff are doing all they can, but they urgently need significant help to get the country out of this crisis. We need Government to deliver a funded cardiovascular strategy that ensures the NHS has enough heart doctors, nurses and cardiac physiologists to deliver the care so many heart patients need right now."

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