NHS: Heart Valve Disease

Lord McCabe Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord McCabe]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether NHS services for heart valve disease support healthy ageing and ensure older adults receive equitable access to timely treatment.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, to accelerate the 10-year health plan ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% and to tackle unwarranted variation across the country, this year we will publish a new cardiovascular disease modern service framework. It will support consistent, high-quality and equitable care while fostering innovation across the cardiovascular disease pathway.

[Lord McCabe (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend the Minister for her response. The guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery suggest that the UK is falling behind in terms of diagnosis and treatment for heart valve disease. Can she give an assurance that the new framework will take full account of these guidelines and pay particular attention to the diagnosis and treatment of older people?