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The average ambulance response time for Category 2 calls, including suspected heart attacks and strokes, was 46 minutes in December in England, up from 39 minutes in November, according to the latest NHS figures.
The latest figures are more than double the official target for answering Category 2 calls by 18 times.
NHS England and the Government have set a new average target of 30 minutes for 2023/24. This goal was achieved in just one month from April 2023.
In good news, the latest NHS England figures released today show that the number of people on heart disease waiting lists in England at the end of November 2023 has fallen to 402,028, an increase of 4,667 on the previous month. Diminished.
However, cardiac care waiting lists are still 72% higher than in February 2020. This is an increase of 169,000 people, almost enough to fill Wembley Stadium nearly twice as full.
This number also shows that:
• The number of people waiting four months or more for potentially life-saving cardiac treatment was 156,400 at the end of November, down from 159,312 at the end of October 2023. However, far more than a third (39%) of people are waiting. There are people on the cardiac care list who have been waiting for treatment for more than 18 weeks.
• The longer a person waits for treatment, the greater the risk of disability and early death from heart failure.
• The number of people waiting more than a year for urgent heart tests and treatments fell to 11,400 from 12,778 in October. Only 28 people waited this long in February 2020.
“Dangerous Wait”
said Dr. Sonya Babu Narayan, our Associate Medical Director. “Heart attacks and strokes are life-threatening emergencies.
“Every minute of delay increases the risk of permanent brain or heart damage or even death. That’s why average ambulance response times rose again in December this year. This is why it’s so dangerous. ”
“Unacceptable wait times for emergency heart attack and stroke treatment are just the tip of the iceberg. By the time this happens, there have been serious problems in every part of the system that provides critical care to heart patients. It means there is.
“Despite a slight decline in the number of people waiting for planned cardiac treatments, waiting times for cardiac treatments remain near record highs. Patients and their families need an end to this crisis. is needed.
“If you are experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, do not hesitate to call 999. It is still the best course of action and could save your life.”
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