We needed to double the number of cardiac nurses available to provide this care. heart help line To meet growing demand.

From December 2023 to February 2024, we have seen a 40% increase in the number of contacts compared to the same period last year, reaching a record high of 7,858 people contacted in that month. I am reporting.

In February alone, the number of people contacting us via phone, email, and live chat increased by 75% year-over-year, with the total number of inquiries increasing from 2,029 in February 2023 to 3,559.

Many people who contact the helpline express concerns about not being able to diagnose or book an appointment for a heart condition, or are worried about new or changing symptoms.

latest numbers It shows that more than 400,000 people in the UK were waiting for heart tests, surgeries and other heart procedures at the end of January, an increase of 75% since February 2020.

It is estimated that tens of thousands more are waiting for aftercare, such as general physician referrals, regular check-ups by specialists, and cardiac rehabilitation.

more people need support

without knowing it symptoms The rise in heart disease could also lead to delays in people seeking emergency medical help for conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

Chloe McArthur, head nurse at our helpline, said: More people than ever are in dire need of support, whether you have a heart problem or want to help someone with a heart problem.

“It is alarming that so many people we spoke to are under the stress of urgent cardiac care and often face appalling delays.

Just last month, someone told us they were facing a 72-week wait for heart surgery, something that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

“We are also hearing stories of people putting off seeking help because they don’t know the symptoms of potentially life-threatening heart and circulatory diseases.

“We are here to help everyone seeking answers during these uncertain times. We have added more nurses to our helpline, so anyone can support us by phone, email or live chat. We have a system in place.”

Across the UK, there are 7.6 million people living with a heart or circulatory disease such as a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

Our Cardiac Helpline is staffed by experienced cardiac nurses who can answer your questions and concerns about your heart health, from understanding medical terminology to providing information about diet and lifestyle. Masu.

We also have a wealth of information on our website and our own free online community, supported by HealthUnlocked, where people with heart and circulatory conditions can share their experiences and find support for each other. Prepared.

we also launched heart needs more A campaign to raise awareness about delays in cardiac care.

The report calls on politicians from all parties to prioritize the care of cardiovascular disease in the run-up to the next general election and when a new government is formed.

story of faith

The 22-year-old fitness coach from Little Minstery, Shropshire, praised the support he received from us after suffering a heart attack.

On January 6, 2024, avid gym-goer Faith Harrison felt fit and healthy when she drove more than an hour to Stafford for a hockey game. . She made a great play, assisting two goals and sprinting all over the pitch.

It was after the game that she started feeling uncomfortable, but she never thought it might be related to her heart.

Faith said, “After the game, I didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t feel sick or sick, I just didn’t feel like myself.” I got in the car to go home. After about 30 minutes, my arm felt numb and tingly, and my chest felt very tight, as if someone was sitting on it.

“I thought something serious was going on, but since I could talk and move, I thought I was fine. I never thought it had anything to do with my mind. did not.”

She went to hospital, where doctors told Faith she needed to be taken by ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital, the nearest cardiac centre.

Tests there revealed that one of Faith’s coronary arteries was 90% blocked by a blood clot and that she had been suffering a so-called “widowmaker” heart attack over the past seven hours. She was lucky to be alive.

Faith was also diagnosed with the following illness: Patent foramen ovale (PFO)a small hole between the two upper chambers of the heart that usually closes after birth.

In very rare cases, a PFO can cause a normally harmless blood clot to reach a coronary artery and cause a blockage, causing a heart attack.

Faith underwent an emergency thrombectomy to remove the blood clot from her artery.

Unfortunately, however, Faith’s mental damage from the attack was so severe that she is currently heart failure. This is a condition that means the heart is not pumping blood around the body effectively.

“What happened to me was a shitty thing, but I was given a second chance and I want to make something of it,” Faith said.

“Everyone, including young people, should learn the symptoms of a heart attack and not delay seeking help. It could save a life.

“It’s also important that medical professionals don’t assume young people can’t have a heart attack. I have living proof that they do.”

Contact our helpline