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Thousands of heart patients are dying or becoming seriously ill due to year-long wait to see NHS specialists Have you been left waiting for a heart failure assessment? Write to [email protected].
By Pat Hagan For The Mail On Sunday Published: 20:20 EDT, 29 June 2024 | Updated: 20:22 EDT, 29 June 2024 e-mail View comments Heart failure patients are dying or becoming seriously ill because of severe delays in NHS treatment, experts have warned. It’s feared hundreds or possibly thousands of deaths and hospital admissions every year are occurring among patients waiting a year or more to see a specialist. Many could be prevented if tests and drugs were given sooner.
A new study shows most patients who see their GP with heart failure symptoms, such as breathlessness, extreme fatigue and swollen ankles, wait at least a year to get a diagnosis from a cardiologist. Although heart failure is not curable, cardiologists can prescribe a variety of vital medicines that prolong survival and significantly improve quality of life. The most effective of these – known as SGLT2 inhibitors – can slash the risk of being admitted to hospital with heart failure by more than 30 per cent.
But treatment guidelines bar NHS GPs from prescribing the drugs for heart failure, even though they can dish them out for other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. Hundreds or even thousands of deaths and hospital admissions are occurring among patients waiting over a year to see a specialist.
