Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 28 June 2022 to Question 21237 on Health Services: Standards, what progress he has made on reviewing that progress against the commitments relating to cardiovascular disease and cholesterol; whether those targets will not be removed from the updated NHS Long Term Plan; and if he will publish the updated NHS Long Term Plan in January 2023 at the latest.

Progress against cardiovascular disease (CVD) commitments in 2021-22 includes 56,000 more patients identified as having a 20% or greater 10-year risk of developing CVD being treated with lipid lowering therapies; 1.1 million more people had their hypertension controlled; and 46,000 more people with atrial fibrillation were treated with an anti-coagulant compared to 2020-21.

The National Health Service’s priorities for 2023-24 are set out in the NHS operational planning guidance, detailing an ongoing commitment to the goals of the NHS Long Term Plan, including those on cardiovascular disease. There are specific objectives in the guidance for improving the management of people with hypertension and high cholesterol.

The Hewitt review is currently looking at the scope and options for national targets and how to empower local leaders to improve outcomes for their populations and the Department looks forward to considering its conclusions.

As the Secretary of State announced on 24 January, the Department is developing a strategy for major conditions, including cardiovascular disease, with an interim report due summer 2023. This will build on the commitments already made in the NHS Long Term Plan.