29 September is World Heart Day, which gives us a chance to highlight our 12-lead Electrocardiograms (ECG) service, which we began commissioning in 2016.
In the financial year 2024 – 2025, Wandsworth GP practices provided a total of 9153 ECGs for eligible patients – an increase of 37 percent compared to the previous year.
This means that more patients got the support they needed to manage their condition, whilst making it easier and more convenient to access.
Did you know…
- There are over 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK – over 4 million males and over 3.6 million females
- In the UK more than half of us will get a heart or circulatory condition in our lifetime.
- Around 49,000 people under the age of 75 in the UK die from heart and circulatory diseases each year. (BHF)
For patients, there are many benefits to ECGs being provided in GP practices, including the convenience of care being provided nearer to home, reduced waiting times (within 2 weeks of referral) and improved diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular disease.