Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the early detection of heart valve disease within primary care and the wider community during the covid-19 outbreak.

Primary care and general practitioner practices have remained open throughout the pandemic and the National Health Service has prioritised treatment of the most urgent cases, including heart diseases. To continue to provide consultations in a COVID-19-safe environment, many practices are providing video or phone consultations. The NHS is prioritising restoration of the most urgently needed services, including diagnosis and treatment for patients with heart failure and heart valve disease.

In line with the diagnostics review ‘Diagnostics: Recovery and Renewal’, published on the 1 October, community diagnostic hubs are being established which will support with diagnostics, to improve the capacity to increase the detection of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and heart valve disease.