Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease for thousands of people in West Yorkshire
Posted: - 11th January 2022
Thousands of patients are at a reduced risk of having cardiovascular disease, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke, as a result of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Healthy Hearts project we are delivering in partnership with the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
In West Yorkshire and Harrogate alone, more than 600,000 people are affected by high blood pressure (hypertension) – a leading cause of heart disease and stroke – whilst over 60,000 people have an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) and more than 49,000 people have experienced a stroke or mini-stroke (TIA).
West Yorkshire and Harrogate Healthy Hearts is an initiative that focuses on three specific risk factors that can cause cardiovascular disease (CVD) including high blood pressure (hypertension), cholesterol and diabetes.
The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Healthy Hearts project supports the Integrated Care System’s ambition to reduce cardiovascular disease by over 10% across the region. This will prevent an estimated 350 strokes and 800 heart attacks bringing savings to the health and care economy of over £12 million.
To date the project has seen almost 19,000 additional patients identified as having high blood pressure and almost 15,000 additional patients are now receiving treatment to control it. More than 10,000 patients have switched from a low intensity statin to a high intensity statin to better control their cholesterol and 1,300 patients with a high risk of CVD have been offered a statin.
Working closely with primary care is vital to the success of Healthy Hearts and the project team has engaged directly with more than 1,000 healthcare professionals to share resources, spread learning, and share good practice in the diagnosis and treatment of CVD risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
“Improving people’s health and saving lives is what this project is all about. We are delighted to see the positive difference this is making. It’s heartening to know what can be achieved when we work together to scale up good practice to benefit all people living across West Yorkshire. This is what our West Yorkshire Partnership is all about” Dr Steve Ollerton, a GP and Clinical Lead for Primary and Community care West Yorkshire and GP Board member for The Mast locality – NHS Kirklees CCG
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The AHSN has undertaken this project with rigour and vigour and is a key reason for the project’s success to date and ensuring our continued success. The AHSN has shown strong and effective programme management skills; has identified, built and maintain relationships with key stakeholders; and has provided essential support to the many clinicians engaged in this work – including enthusing them when challenges have occurred.
