Cardiac care improving in Wales

Vaughan Gething said: 

“We have seen a steady decline in the number of people dying from cardiovascular disease in Wales – rates fell by almost 1,000 people a year between 2010 and 2015.  Hospital admissions for coronary heart disease also fell by 21% over the last five years thanks to better management of the condition. 

“The British Heart Foundation recently described Wales as a world leader in cardiac rehabilitation, as we have seen a significant increase in the number of patients receiving the service following a heart attack.  We are looking to build on this great progress for the future.”

Plans include: 

• the development of an out of hospital cardiac arrest plan to improve survival rates; 
  
  
• targeting resources to hard to reach groups, and development of community cardiology clinics where early diagnosis and treatment can be offered closer to a patients’ home;
  
  
• improved access to Familial Hypercholesterolaemia testing for people who have very high cholesterol levels, or who have a personal or family history of premature vascular disease as well as testing for close family members;
  
  
• work with Health and Care Research Wales to increase the number of heart condition research studies undertaken in Wales and to increase research relating to children and young people.  

Judith Paget, Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Chair of the Heart Conditions Implementation Group, said: 

“Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of ill health and death in Wales.  We know that quitting smoking and regular exercise can help reduce heart disease risks, and our plan looks at how we can help people to make healthy choices. 

“The NHS in Wales is making big strides.  Cardiac care and survival rates continue to improve.  This plan outlines how we can keep these improvements going into the future.”