Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve awareness and understanding of peripheral arterial disease among (1) the public, and (2) the primary care workforce.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), like other cardiovascular conditions, shares risk factors and is largely preventable. However, access to timely diagnosis and treatment can vary significantly across regions. The Government is working to reduce these disparities and improve outcomes for patients.

To support the reduction of inequalities in care, NHS England’s national approach is Core20PLUS5, with further information available on the NHS.UK website. The approach defines a target population cohort and identifies five clinical areas requiring accelerated improvement, including cardiovascular disease. There is a specific focus on improving the detection and management of hypertension, and optimising lipid management, amongst target groups to prevent conditions such as PAD.

In addition, the National Vascular Registry (NVR) collects and publishes data on the outcomes of major vascular procedures across National Health Service hospitals. This includes procedures for PAD, such as angioplasty, bypass surgery, and amputations. By highlighting both good practice and areas needing improvement, the NVR supports hospitals and commissioners in identifying and addressing regional gaps in care quality and outcomes.

Information on PAD is available on the NHS.UK website, and NHS England continues to work with clinical experts and professional bodies to improve care and reduce regional variation.