Concerns Surrey residents could be missing out on treatment for heart failure
According to the British Heart Foundation there was a drop in hospital admissions during the pandemic
Last updated 27th Mar 2021
There are fears thousands of people in our region have missed out on treatment for heart failure.
According to the British Heart Foundation, there was a drastic decrease in hospital admissions in the South East during the first wave of the pandemic.
Between January and July 2019 Frimley Health saw 1,490 heart failure admissions, this dropped by 34% to 985 between January 2020 and July 2020.
For Surrey Heartlands admissions went from 1,945 to 1,565, a 20% decrease.
As the pandemic recedes, the BHF is calling for the Government and health systems to resume and improve heart failure services as a matter of urgency4.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:
“The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has been an anxious and isolating time for many people living with heart failure. We know the health service is working extremely hard to treat all patients, but our analysis suggests some patients may have fallen through the cracks and become invisible to the system.
“Now, as we come out of the pandemic, is the time to focus on resuming and improving care, so people with heart failure are able to have a better quality of life, for longer.
“To achieve this, every level of the health system needs to be joined up and the best possible information shared to improve health outcomes for people with heart failure.
"The pandemic has made people approach care and treatment in a different, often more digital way, and we need to grasp the benefits for patients and the health service alike.
"At the same time, any shift in the way we deliver care must not exacerbate health inequalities."