Heart care waiting lists could take five years to clear

Thousands of lives at risk from delays in diagnosis and treatment caused by pandemic, experts warn

THE backlog of heart patients is set to take five years to clear, with thousands at risk of dying from treatable conditions, health experts have warned.

Disruption caused by the pandemic will cause waiting lists for life-saving diagnosis and treatment to double within two years, analysis has found.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) estimates that the number of heart patients waiting to be seen will peak at 550,385 in January 2024 unless urgent action is taken.

Even in a best-case scenario, it would take at least three years to get waiting lists down to pre-pandemic levels, the charity warned.

Meanwhile, the number of people waiting specifically for heart surgery is set to nearly double by February 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the list expected to peak at around 15,384.

Even before the pandemic, around 225,000 people in England were on cardiology waiting lists for heart diagnosis or treatment, with 8,400 waiting for heart surgery.

Independent experts have challenged the notion that the NHS was “there for everyone who needs it”, pointing to widespread postponements and cancellations, as well as patients choosing to avoid hospitals for fear of infection with Covid or of burdening the health service.

Long waits for diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as coronary heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure are distressing and increase the risk of someone becoming more unwell or even dying while they wait for vital care, the BHF is warning.

Analysts believe there were 5,800 “excess” deaths from heart and circulatory conditions in the first year of the pandemic in England.

Prof Sir Nilesh Samani, the BHF’S medical director, said: “Even before the pandemic began, waiting lists for vital heart care were far too long. As this report shows, the pandemic has since pushed the NHS towards breaking point, with devastating consequences for the 7.6million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the United Kingdom.

“Delay in diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases is not just about improving symptoms, however important that is – it is about saving lives. Tragically, we have already seen thousands of extra deaths from heart and circulatory diseases during the pandemic, and delays to care have likely contributed to this terrible toll.”

He added: “At this critical moment, the Government must act now to avoid more lives lost to treatable heart conditions.

“Addressing the growing heart care backlog is only the start. We must also

see a clear plan, alongside significant and ongoing investment, to build capacity back into the NHS and address the pandemic’s impact on health workers.

“Getting this right would avoid preventable heartbreak for many families.”

Yesterday, The Sunday Telegraph revealed that a new artificial intelligence scanning technology could provide heart disease diagnoses at twice the current rate, potentially making a significant dent in the backlog.

The Oxford-designed system negates the need for patients to be injected with contrast dye, cutting the time taken in the clinic from around 45 minutes to 15.

However, the technology is unlikely to be rolled out widely for two years.

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, the BHF’S chief executive, said: “Every number on a waiting list is a loved one facing a potentially agonising wait for care that could save or improve their life.

“Vital heart tests and surgery can’t be put off – long delays lead to debilitating anxiety and put people’s lives at risk.”