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Heart ops backlog pledge by Health Minister Mark Drakeford Heart ops backlog pledge by Health Minister Mark Drakeford
(about 1 hour later)
The health minister has said he will continue to allow some heart patients to be sent to England for surgery where necessary.The health minister has said he will continue to allow some heart patients to be sent to England for surgery where necessary.
The NHS in Wales is still struggling to meet waiting list targets for cardiac patients, according to a first annual performance report on heart services.The NHS in Wales is still struggling to meet waiting list targets for cardiac patients, according to a first annual performance report on heart services.
Targets for patients being seen within six months have not been met for more than two years.Targets for patients being seen within six months have not been met for more than two years.
But health boards now have a "stronger focus" to get to grips with delays.But health boards now have a "stronger focus" to get to grips with delays.
The annual report was ordered by Health Minister Mark Drakeford to tackle heart disease, a major killer in Wales.The annual report was ordered by Health Minister Mark Drakeford to tackle heart disease, a major killer in Wales.
Concerns about waiting times for heart patients emerged a year ago.Concerns about waiting times for heart patients emerged a year ago.
There was a rise in deaths of patients waiting for cardiac treatment at hospitals in Cardiff and Swansea while the Royal College of Surgeons warned of its concerns and that the situation was "dangerous".There was a rise in deaths of patients waiting for cardiac treatment at hospitals in Cardiff and Swansea while the Royal College of Surgeons warned of its concerns and that the situation was "dangerous".
A total of 99 patients had died over five years waiting for cardiac surgery at either the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff or Morriston Hospital in Swansea. Ninety-nine patients had died over five years waiting for surgery at either the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, or Morriston Hospital, Swansea.
To combat the problem, around 80 patients from Wales were sent for treatment in England to deal with the backlog in an agreement announced in February. To combat the problem, around 80 patients from Wales were sent for treatment in England in an agreement announced in February.
Mr Drakeford told BBC Wales he is now willing for this to continue into next year. Mr Drakeford told BBC Wales he is willing for this to continue into 2015.
The report found overall numbers with coronary heart disease in Wales are falling, but more than 4,300 people a year are still dying from it. The report found the number of coronary heart disease cases in Wales are falling, but more than 4,300 people a year are still dying from it.
It noted the NHS and health boards were working to meet the needs of the most urgent patients and to "reduce waiting times significantly". It said the NHS and health boards were working to help the most urgent patients and to cut waiting times "significantly".
This latest report also suggests that despite some improvements there are big differences between health boards in how long patients have to wait for diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG) tests. It added, despite some improvements, there are big differences between health boards in how long patients have to wait for a diagnostic electrocardiogram (ECG).
In the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board area, 100% of patients got access to an ECG within eight weeks, but in the neighbouring Aneurin Bevan health board area more than half of patients had to wait longer than eight weeks. In the Cardiff and Vale area, 100% of patients had access to an ECG within eight weeks, but more than half of Aneurin Bevan health board patients waited longer than that.
HEART HIGHLIGHTS:HEART HIGHLIGHTS:
Source: Together for Health - Heart Disease Delivery Plan, Annual Report 2014Source: Together for Health - Heart Disease Delivery Plan, Annual Report 2014
Better detection and tackling unhealthy lifestyles had helped improvements, said the report. Better detection and tackling unhealthy lifestyles had helped, said the report which flagged up Hywel's Health programme.
One of the programmes highlighted is Hywel's Health, which has involved going into the workplace to help more than 1,000 people at risk of heart disease in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. The scheme has helped more than 1,000 people in the workplace at risk of heart disease in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
It found 77% had weight issues and 33% had high blood pressure. It found 77% had weight issues, 33% had high blood pressure, a quarter were given lifestyle and diet support and 18% were referred to GPs.
A quarter were given lifestyle and diet support and 18% referred to GPs. Mr Drakeford said there had been "significant progress" but more could be done.
Mr Drakeford said there had been "significant progress" due to hard work of staff and preventative measures. "We will continue to invest in services, improve early diagnosis and prevent the causes of the disease, including cutting smoking levels and encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles," he added.
"However, we must continue to tackle heart disease which remains a major cause of death in Wales," he said.
"We will continue to invest in services, improve early diagnosis and prevent the causes of the disease, including cutting smoking levels and encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles."