Waiting list for heart care in the South East could rise by 56 per cent
That is compared with the waiting list before the coronavirus pandemic
More than 51,000 people in the South East could be at risk if waiting times for heart care are not reduced.
That is according to new modelling by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The charity's forecast also shows waiting lists for heart care in the South East could increase by 56 per cent by March 2022, compared with the waiting list before the coronavirus pandemic.
In February 2020, around 32,000 people were on cardiology waiting lists in the South East of England.
The BHF predicts that, by March 2022, this could reach a staggering 51,033 because of the pandemic.
The charity wants there to be more investment to help solve the problem.
A new report by the BHF – titled The Untold Heartbreak – has revealed that without action now, the charity estimates it will take between three and five years for the heart care backlog in England to recover to pre-pandemic levels.
The charity has warned that without immediate intervention, there is a risk that thousands more people could die from heart and circulatory diseases.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:
"Even before the pandemic began, waiting lists for vital heart care were far too long.
"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.
"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."
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, added:
"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.
"The voices of people with heart and circulatory diseases must be heard as the Government considers the action needed to tackle the mounting backlog in cardiovascular care."
The Untold Heartbreak states long waits for cardiovascular care are only the "tip of the iceberg".
Professor Simon Ray, Immediate Past President of the British Cardiovascular Society, said:
"Despite the best efforts of NHS staff, people with heart and circulatory diseases have experienced severe disruption to their care because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"While this report shows the scale of the challenge ahead, there is hope.
"Green shoots of recovery have appeared, and the NHS has shown incredible will to address the problems it faces.
"By acting now, we can stop modelling estimates from becoming a long-term reality and avoid more deaths from treatable heart and circulatory diseases.
"If the Government urgently intervenes to address the backlog, build back healthcare services stronger, grow our NHS workforce, and restore research funding, we can save and improve lives for millions of people with heart and circulatory conditions, both now and long into the future."