Teesside heart treatment specialist is urging people not to ignore the warning signs and get medical support if needed, in light of the startling impact of COVID-19.
This is after the British Heart Foundation revealed a rise in excess deaths across the country in people with heart and circulatory problems aged under 65 since the pandemic began.
The cardiology service at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is encouraging people who experience issues to make contact.
There are a number of reasos for these figures:
- The public were not contacting health services as they normally would. For example, anxiety around overburdening the NHS or a fear of catching COVID-19.
- Routine tests and treatments had to be put on hold due to COVID-19 treatment.
We have all learned a huge amout since COVID-19 arrived. I have several messages to reassure people. The NHS is here for you and it is available. It can deal with any health issue you may have including chest pains. Don’t be shy to make contact.
Great efforts have been made to protect people from coronavirus. People can be reassured they are not at risk when they come for treatment – they are at much greater risk if they choose not to attend hospital to deal with issues that need attention.
Justin Carter, consultant in cardiology
Justin continued: “The GP services and hospitals are doing a lot of work to ensure issues such as cancer care and heart care continue this time around.
“Last time a lot of this non-urgent treatment had to be paused – this time around that will not be the same.”
The British Heart Foundation revealed this week there were almost 800 excess deaths in those dying below the age of 65 from heart and circulatory diseases.
- Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that excess deaths in England and Wales for many health conditions spiked during the first peak of the pandemic in March and April. Then, in the 10 weeks following, the numbers fell back to levels seen before the peak.
- But excess deaths from heart and circulatory diseases in people under 65 remained high even after the first peak – with rates almost 13% higher than usual between May and July.
