Health Secretary Wes Streeting has outlined three strategic shifts for the NHS: transitioning from analogue to digital, moving care from hospitals to communities, and prioritising prevention over treatment. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) presents a significant opportunity to drive these changes, benefiting both public health and the economy.
CVD is arguably the big-ticket item for delivering on the ambition of a healthier population and economy. CVD is a leading cause of death in England, responsible for over 140,000 deaths annually—more than a quarter of all deaths. Its healthcare costs reach £10 billion annually, with an additional £24 billion burden on the wider economy (1). Focused efforts to implement proven innovations could significantly reduce these impacts.
The Health Innovation Network has worked for over a decade to drive innovation in CVD care. Here are just a few examples of how this work is leading the way, shifting CVD care into the new era of the NHS.
From Analogue to Digital
Transforming Cardiac Monitoring with AI and Smart Data
Digital solutions improve care efficiency and identify at-risk patients earlier. The Health Innovation Network supports innovations like CVDACTION and the iRhythm Zio device:
- CVDACTION: A smart data tool that consolidates 85 data searches into actionable dashboards, providing real-time insights into patient care. The tool is being trialled by UCLPartners in 15 primary care networks around the country, across a population of around 800,000 people. It tracks CVD metrics, identifies health inequalities, and aids patient prioritisation.
- iRhythm Zio: A single-use cardiac monitoring patch powered by AI, assessed by Health Innovation West of England in collaboration with North Bristol NHS Trust. Between 2019 and 2022, referrals increased by 32%, while waiting times for testing dropped by 24%. Cardiac physiologists saved 75–156 minutes per patient (2).
From Hospital to Community
Local Services Detecting and Managing High Blood Pressure
Proactive detection and treatment of CVD in community settings can reduce hospital admissions.
- Lifelight in Southampton: This tool measures blood pressure via smartphone cameras. As part of NHS England’s Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme it was deployed at community events, engaging at-risk populations. Among attendees, 123 were identified for escalated care.
- UCLPartners Proactive Care Frameworks: Adopted in Great Yarmouth & North Villages, supported by Health Innovation East, this initiative improved hypertension management. Training 80 clinicians and connecting them with pharmacists led to the identification of over 1,000 high-risk patients.
From Treatment to Prevention
Early Intervention for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and Menopause-Related Risks
Preventative care is vital for reducing long-term NHS pressures. UCLPartners’ Size of the Prize highlights prevention’s potential. Raising blood pressure treatment rates from 68% to 80% nationally could prevent 14,000 heart attacks and strokes over three years, saving the NHS £150 million. Increasing statin treatment for existing CVD patients to 90% could prevent 12,000 heart attacks and strokes, save 1,400 lives, and reduce healthcare demand.
- FH Screening Services: In North East and North Cumbria, the West Midlands and the North West Coast, a Child-Parent Screening Service identified families at risk of genetic FH. Over 1,600 children were screened, with one genetic diagnosis confirmed, enabling early intervention to prevent advanced CVD.
- Menopause and CVD Risks: In Yorkshire and Humber, awareness campaigns addressed the heightened CVD risks during menopause. A combined education and exercise program empowered underserved populations to manage heart health proactively.
The big-ticket item
The three big shifts in NHS care are vital for shaping the future of healthcare delivery; prioritising cardiovascular care within these shifts offers a huge opportunity to support NHS and economic recovery through improved NHS productivity, reduced service demand and economic growth, both as a result of helping people get back to work and helping innovative businesses succeed in the NHS. There are both exciting and challenging times ahead for the NHS, but by ensuring health systems are given the time, space and appropriate resource to harness the expertise and brilliant new ideas we already have, and focusing on clinical areas that can deliver the greatest impact for patients and the economy, I am confident we can bring about the right change, for the benefit of all.
Dr. Phil Jennings is Deputy Chair of the Health Innovation Network, and Chief Executive of Health Innovation North West Coast.
1. British Heart Foundation, England Factsheet, September 2024
2. Stats correct as of April 2024
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