NHS heart care 'must get better'

High blood pressure increases heart attack and stroke risk

There needs to be a renewed drive to tackle cardiovascular disease, the health regulator says.

The Care Quality Commission highlighted a number of areas of care where standards could improve.

In particular, the report said doctors were not doing enough to record cases of CVD, particularly in deprived areas.

Just over 1% of adults do not have their heart disease and stroke problems recorded, but this rises to 7% in poor neighbourhoods.

The regulator said this could mean they may not be given access to the services they need.

We are now doing more than ever to help people of all ages to lead healthier lives Department of Health spokesman

The criticisms by the CQC come despite the government hitting its target to reduce deaths among the under 75s by 40%.

The study did applaud the decline, but said the nation must go further as the UK still has one of the highest CVD rates in Europe.

The regulator analysed data on the performance of 8,300 GP practices and 152 primary care trusts.

If found statin prescribing and cholesterol management could both improve alongside the recording of CVD.

Currently, GPs get maximum payment when they record acceptable cholesterol levels for 70% of patients on their register.

The CQC said further payments should be introduced to capture the one in three patients who may be missed.

Furthermore, it said too many GPs prescribed expensive branded statins when equally effective, cheaper non-branded ones are available.

CQC chairman Barbara Young, said: "This disease is likely to touch every single one of us at some point in our lives.

"It is good news that the number of deaths has been driven down, but resting on those laurels is really not an option."

'Alarming'

And Betty McBride, from the British Heart Foundation, added: "It is alarming to find that people in deprived areas are missing out on vital health services.

"If we are to give people in deprived areas the services they deserve we clearly need to prioritise them in future plans."

But a Department of Health spokesman said tackling the issues raised remained "a priority".

He said the public health campaign Change for Life and the introducing of health checks for the over 40s would help to pick up problems across society.

"We are now doing more than ever to help people of all ages to lead healthier lives."