Leading charities are calling on patients in England to take part in a public survey, launched today, to ensure the government puts cardio and vascular disease at the top of future health strategy.
 
The Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC), a group of 36 voluntary organisations, is urging people who suffer from cardio and vascular disease, their relatives, or carers to visit www.consultationfinder.com/cvc and have their say about the future of treatment and care.
 
Heart and circulatory diseases, which include heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of death in England, causing more than 167,000 deaths every year. Closely related conditions affect the lives of millions of people. More than 4% of adults in England have diabetes and over 8% of people are affected by chronic kidney disease.
 
Betty McBride, Chair of the CVC, said: “We want to hear what really matters to people living with cardio vascular disease, and their loved ones. If we are to improve treatment and care, we must listen and learn from people with first hand experience.”
 
The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease comes to an end in 2009/10 and there is currently no strategy to replace it. The framework has been crucial in providing a focus for the health service in reducing death and disability caused by cardio and vascular disease.
 
Betty McBride said: “The government cannot take a holiday from fighting cardio and vascular disease. Heart health has improved over the last decade, but it still kills more people than any other disease.”

Cardio & Vascular Coalition