Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards the aim set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan to reduce the number of hospital admissions for heart attacks and strokes.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the second highest cause of premature death in England. It affects seven million people, causes one in four premature deaths and 1.6 million disability adjusted life years.

Whilst it is not possible to categorise whether a person’s CVD was preventable, almost 40% of the disease burden in England is due to preventable risk factors, such as tobacco, alcohol, obesity and high blood pressure. Over 75% of deaths from CVD are linked to preventable risk factors.

The 10-Year Health Plan will deliver the three big shifts the National Health Service needs to be fit for the future: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. All three shifts are relevant to improving outcomes for those experiencing heart attacks or strokes. More tests and scans delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology will all help people manage their conditions closer to home and help to reduce hospital admissions.

We are engaging with stakeholders to put the best available evidence and expert opinion at the heart of this ambition and to gather a diverse range of views. This includes from the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, Stroke Association, Heart UK, UCL Partners, Association of Directors of Public Health and Local Government.