Thousands of patients ‘denied life-saving heart test’ by penny-pinching health service
Hospitals and GPs failing to use £28 test even though it speeds ups diagnosis and can save lives
THOUSANDS of sick patients are denied a potentially life-saving test for heart failure, a report claims.
One in three NHS hospitals and GPs fail to use the £28 test - even though it speeds ups diagnosis and improves patients' chances of responding to treatment.
A group of MPs has demanded the test be used more widely.
It said it could save the NHS nearly £4m a year by avoiding the need to treat very sick patients.
The demand is one of ten recommendations on beefing up heart failure care.
Around 400,000 people in England alone suffer with heart failure.
And another 60,000 cases are diagnosed every year.
It can develop slowly over time, as a result of high blood pressure or blocked arteries, or suddenly after a heart attack.
The weakened heart works harder than ever to force blood round the body, until it is eventually exhausted and barely able to function.
Patients suffer shortness of breath, loss of appetite and abnormal heart rate.
In very severe cases, a transplant is the only option.
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An ageing population and improved survival from heart attacks mean more people are living with it.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heart Disease investigated NHS care and found blood tests recommended by health watchdog NICE were not being made available to all patients.
The test, developed nearly 20 years ago by British scientists, is called NTproBNP.
It detects levels of natriuretic peptide in a patient's blood.
Patients with very high levels have a poor outlook and should be urgently referred for specialist heart failure treatment.
It's feared many are not getting the intensive care they need to survive their condition.
Group chairman Tory MP Stuart Andrew said: 'Many people with heart failure receive excellent care and there is a lot of good practice.
'However, many others do not receive the care that meets guidelines.
'This can have a considerable impact on their lives - often resulting in unnecessary early death.'
MPs also called for consultants to always have direct input to patient care and regular checks on staffing to ensure patients get the service they need.
Heart expert Prof Andrew Clark, who advised MPs, said: 'We are keen to see the recommendations implemented as soon as possible.'
And British Heart Foundation chief Simon Gillespie said: 'Heart failure is a devastating condition.'