WAITING lists for vital heart care could peak at over half a million by 2024, a charity has warned.
Experts said that the coronavirus pandemic has 'pushed the NHS to breaking point' and that without action, the treatment backlog could take up to five years before it returns to pre-Covid levels.
The British Heart Foundation said that the number of people waiting for heart care could peak at 550,385 in January 2024 if there is a bad winter, Covid pressure increases and if the health service does not receive more funding.
It also warned that the number of people anxiously waiting for heart surgery could double by February 2022.
This is compared to pre-pandemic levels and the charity said the number of people waiting in England could reach 15,384 in February.
But the waiting list isn't just down to the pandemic, and the charity highlighted that before Covid hit, there were around 225,000 people in England on cardiology waiting lists for heart diagnosis or treatment.
There were also around 8,400 people waiting for heart surgery.
If the government does not provide enhanced funding to the NHS then it will take between three and five years fore the backlog to reach pre-pandemic levels, the charity said.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation said that even before the pandemic, waiting lists for heart care were 'too long'.
He added: "The pandemic has since pushed the NHS towards breaking point, with devastating consequences for the 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.
“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."
The signs of heart disease
HEART disease is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK – and the world.
About one in four people in Western countries die of heart disease, so it's important you learn the key signs.
Professor David Newby, from the British Heart Foundation, says there are 11 symptoms you need to take seriously…
- Chest pain – if you have chest pain and you feel extremely unwell, you should dial 999 and get an ambulance as soon as possible.
- Feeling sick – not every bout of nausea could mean a heart attack – but if it's accompanied with pain then warning bells should be going off.
- Stomach pain – it may feel a little like indigestion, but sometimes that ache could be the early signs of a heart attack.
- Feeling sweaty – feeling hot and clammy along with chest pains is a sign that you should call an ambulance.
- Leg pain – if you get a gripping, cramping sensation in your calves when you are walking, it might be worth seeing your doctor, as that can be a marker of PAD (peripheral arterial disease).
- Arm pain – if the pain is going down the arm, especially on the left side, or it goes into the neck, that means it's more likely to be heart-related than indigestion.
- Jaw or back pain – the pain can be in other unusual places like the jaw or back.
- Choking sensation – sometimes the pain can be felt up in the throat and people tend to describe it as a choking sensation.
- Swollen ankles – it can be a marker of heart failure, but it is also very common and has lots of other causes.
- Extreme fatigue – if you start experiencing extreme tiredness and your lifestyle hasn’t changed, it’s a good idea to chat to your GP.
- Irregular heartbeat – if it's going very fast and jumping around erratically then it's probably time to see your GP.
The charity's report shows that long waits for treatments and diagnosis of heart conditions are emotionally distressing and increase the risk of someone dying while they wait for the care they need.
In the first year of the pandemic there were 5,800 excess deaths from heart and circulatory conditions.
The charity said that significant delays to care were likely to have contributed to this.
In order to reduce the backlog, the charity says the government needs to 'take significant action now'.
This action they say, would include a clear plan for cardiovascular services and rapid investment to build more capacity into NHS England.
They said this would hel relieve pressure on exhausted health workers, as well as better support for heart patients.
Without intervention thousands more people could die from heart and circulatory disease, the charity warned.
Prof Nilesh 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."
The Sun has contacted the Department of Health.
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