Patients miss out on help

Three out of five heart attack survivors in the North West are missing out on a lifesaving service.

They are failing to attend a cardiac rehabilitation programme, according to a report by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The programme involves nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists and occupational therapists, and gives victims a better chance of surviving in the five years following a heart attack.

Only 40% of 11,736 heart attack sufferers in the North West took part in 2007-8.

However, even this low figure compares favourably with the national figure of 34% of the 83,540 cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland — way below the 85% target.

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the BHF, was disappointed with the results.

He said: “The number of heart patients taking part in cardiac rehabilitation hasn’t increased at all since the last report.

“The audit shows that progress on making this lifesaving service available to patients is flat-lining.”

“Recovery from a heart attack isn’t over when a patient leaves hospital and heart patients should be receiving the ongoing support they need.

“Referral to cardiac rehabilitation should be a routine part of treating heart patients, and until this happens they will continue to miss out.”