A new government stroke plan aims to prevent thousands of premature deaths through improved prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.
The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework is intended to support better prevention, earlier diagnosis, faster treatment and more consistent care across health and care services.
Around 33,000 people die prematurely from heart disease and stroke in the UK each year, according to government figures.
The framework supports the government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25 per cent over the next decade.
It will be backed by a series of partnerships between the government and charities, beginning with Diabetes UK.
The partnership will include a public awareness campaign about the link between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, alongside greater use of the charity’s Know Your Risk tool.
James Murray, secretary of state for health and social care, said: “Too many people are dying early from heart attacks and strokes that we know are preventable.
“This is not good enough and that’s why we are setting clear priorities to help people stay healthier for longer, identify and diagnose serious disease much earlier, and deliver better treatment when it is needed.
“But we know we cannot do all this by ourselves.
That is why I am proud of our new partnership with Diabetes UK, the first of many, through which we will work closely with expert organisations to help people reduce their risk of getting ill and know where to get help.”
People living with diabetes or prediabetes are at significantly higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
More than 4m people in the UK have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, while another 1.3m are thought to be living with the condition without knowing it.
The framework supports the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and marks a shift from reacting to illness towards prevention.
It establishes 12 immediate priorities for the next three years, setting out actions for local health and care systems to reduce deaths and health inequalities.
These include finding and supporting people with high-risk conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and heart failure.
The plan also calls for faster, higher-quality treatment when someone has a heart attack or stroke.
Another priority is improving access to rehabilitation and ongoing support so people can recover and return to everyday life.
The government estimates that successful implementation could prevent between 1,600 and 2,400 premature deaths each year among people aged under 75 during the first three years.
After ten years, it estimates that between 3,850 and 4,900 premature deaths could be prevented annually.
Colette Marshall, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with the Department of Health and Social Care to support its goal of reducing premature deaths from cardiovascular disease over the next decade.
“Diabetes can lead to serious complications, including heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions, but the risk of these can be reduced if people have equitable access to high-quality care.
“We welcome the focus these new plans place on finding and supporting those at risk of type 2 diabetes and preventing the condition where possible.
“These improvements will also help people living with all types of diabetes manage their condition better and live longer, healthier lives.”
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, said: “We welcome the government’s renewed commitment to both saving and improving the lives of people affected by cardiovascular disease, including stroke. At a time when more people of all ages are having strokes, this has never been more urgently needed.
“We look forward to partnering with the government and NHS, so these changes become reality for the 240 people who survive stroke every day in the UK.
“We know that implementation needs to tackle the inequalities which all too often blight stroke prevention and treatment as well as ongoing recovery.
“Only then will stroke patients not only survive, but also get the rehabilitation and support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.”
