Toby Perkins MP made sure to visit the British Heart Foundation’s stall at Labour Party Conference, speaking to the team members presents about the long waits for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like coronary heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure.

It’s estimated that around 5,800 more people than expected have already died from heart and circulatory diseases in England during the first year of the pandemic. Cancelled procedures, missed appointments and growing waiting lists are likely to have contributed to this tragic death toll.

Despite the unwavering efforts of everyone across the NHS to respond to the needs of all patients, sadly many are still unable to access the care they need to stay well.

The BHF is predicting that if the NHS in England doesn’t receive the necessary investment and support needed to address the backlog of care, it could take up to five years for cardiac waiting lists in England to recover to pre-pandemic levels

Toby stated “It was very emotive to learn of the impact that cancelled procedures, missed appointments and ever-growing waiting lists are having on people affected by heart disease – and their loved ones. I was also dismayed to learn that the British Heart Foundation lost more than £40m from shop closures last year as a result of the pandemic”.