NHS ‘must prepare for imminent increase in valve disease cases’

The NHS has been called upon to prepare itself more adequately for an expected sharp rise in valvular heart disease in the coming years.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director for the British Heart Foundation, has stated that the aging UK population is likely to require improved access to expert cardiac services as a result of the growing prevalence of the condition.

The warning comes in response to a recent report in the journal Heart, which suggested that diagnosis and treatment facilities in the UK are currently inadequate to deal with the problem.

Professor Weissberg said it is "well-established" that expert cardiological teams can provide heart disease patients with a better chance of survival and a high quality of life.

He added that investment in these services is necessary "to avoid the financial and health costs of not dealing with the changing pattern of heart disease in an expert and timely manner".

Earlier this month, an NHS Information Centre report showed that heart failure patients without access to specialist services are more likely to die within a year of being admitted to hospital.