The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said ambulance delays, inaccessible care and waits for surgery are linked to 30,000 excess cardiac deaths in England. The BHF suggests heart disease is among the most common causes, responsible for 230 deaths a week above expected rates since February 2020.
Its analysis of NHS data showed that 346,129 people were waiting for time-sensitive cardiac care at the end of August 2022, up 49% since February 2020.
It said 7,467 patients had been waiting more than a year for a heart procedure - 267 times higher than before the pandemic.
The average ambulance response time for a suspected heart attack has risen to 48 minutes in England against a target of 18 minutes, according to the latest NHS figures.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, the BHF's chief executive, said: "It is devastating that the ongoing and extreme disruption to heart care has meant that 30,000 more families have lost a loved one.
"Many hundreds of thousands of people fear that their heart condition could get worse before they get treatment - potentially stopping them from working or enjoying a full life. Many more are completely unaware they now have a condition putting them at a greater risk of early death from a heart attack or stroke."
The BHF said its analysis suggests 395,000 people in England could be on a waiting list for a heart test or procedure by April 2023 based on current trends, up from 224,000 before the start of the Covid pandemic.
It has called for a new strategy to reduce "unacceptable" waiting times.
NHS disruption driving rise in heart deaths, charity says - BBC News
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