In his role as Chair of the APPG on Heart Disease, Stuart has launched an Inquiry into Living with Heart Failure. The Inquiry provides an opportunity to work with patients, health care professionals, the Government and NHS England to identify ways to improve the outcomes and experience for people with heart failure, and their families and carers.
Over half a million people in the UK have been diagnosed with heart failure, and there are likely to be many more undiagnosed cases. It can be a debilitating, distressing and life-limiting condition, which when untreated, has worse survival rates than some cancers. Given that there is an ageing population and improved survival from heart attacks, the prevalence of those living with heart failure is likely to increase.
Costing the NHS around 2 per cent of its total budget, it is costly and accounts for 5 per cent of all emergency admissions, particularly for people over 65 years of age.
The Inquiry will hear evidence from
In Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough:
- 8390 constituents are estimated to be living with cardiovascular disease
- 2610 have coronary heart disease
- 1478 have survived a stroke
- 1285 have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation
- 572 are suffering from heart failure
These statistics prompted Stuart to get involved in Chairing the APPG on Heart Disease, which works with the British Heart Foundation, to raise the profile of heart disease in the UK. Speaking at the launch of the Inquiry, Stuart said:
"I think there are many people who are unaware of the effects of heart failure, indeed, I have found that many people are unaware that you can continue to live with heart failure. We really need to look at ways of improving the outcomes and experiences for the thousands of people who are living with the illness across the country. I hope that through inviting medical professionals, we can learn ways of doing this, and put them forward to both the Government and the NHS."
The Inquiry will be running oral evidence sessions on:
- Diagnosing, Treatment and Care of People with Heart Failure
- Treatment and Care in Hospital
- Treatment and Care in the Community
- Palliative Care Provision
If you are interested in sharing your own experience of Heart Failure, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Stuart.