Cardiology
better outcomes. Nearly 40% of patients experienced delays in
accessing treatment, with half citing NHS waiting times as the main cause.2
This inefficiency is
costly. Emergency procedures are more complex, resource-intensive and associated with higher morbidity. Investing in timely diagnosis and elective treatment is not only safer for patients, but more sustainable for the NHS.
The UK’s TAVI shortfall: a European comparison Despite the proven benefits of TAVI for older or high-risk patients, the UK performs far fewer procedures than comparable European nations. In 2022/23, England recorded just 136 TAVI procedures per million population, compared to over 200 per million in countries like Germany and France.5,6
This disparity has earned the UK
the label of “the poor man of Europe” in valve care. And within England, access to TAVI varies tenfold between regions – a stark indicator of inequality. Capacity constraints are a major barrier. A 2020 survey found that 52% of UK TAVI centres were unable to expand, with 72% citing catheter lab availability as the limiting factor. Without investment in infrastructure and workforce, demand will continue to outstrip.7
What needs to change: a call to action for NHS leaders To prevent avoidable harm and reduce emergency admissions, the NHS must: 1. Raise awareness of valve disease symptoms among patients and professionals.
2. Ensure stethoscope checks are front of mind for healthcare professionals when older people present with tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness.
3. Expand access to echocardiograms and streamline referral pathways.
4. Prioritise patient-reported outcomes in clinical decision-making.
5. Invest in TAVI capacity with a focus on increasing elective treatment and reducing
emergency treatments.
Heart Valve Voice will continue to advocate for these reforms, working with clinicians, commissioners and policymakers to ensure that every patient has timely access to life-saving care.
Conclusion: timely care saves lives Heart valve disease is treatable, but only if it’s diagnosed early and managed proactively. The data is clear: delays lead to deterioration, emergency admissions and complex recoveries. For the NHS, this means higher costs and poorer outcomes. For patients, it can mean the difference between life and death.
References 1. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Heart valve disease presenting in adults: investigation and management. Guideline scope. 2025. Available from:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ ng208/documents/final-scope
2. Heart Valve Voice. Patient Experience Survey. UK; 2025. (Data on file)
3. NHS Data – August 2025 – Patients registered at a GP Practice. Available from: https://tinyurl. com/mrydbe9b
4. Aktaa S, Ali N, Ludman PF, Curzen N, Goodwin AT, Hildick-Smith D, et al. Geographical Inequality in Access to Aortic Valve Intervention in England: A Report from the UK Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Registry and National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit. Interventional Cardiology Review. 2023. Available from:
https://www.icrjournal.com/articles/ geographical-inequality-access-aortic-valve- intervention-england-report-uk-transcatheter
About the author
Wil Woan is the Executive Director of Heart Valve Voice; the UK’s dedicated heart valve disease charity. Heart Valve Voice works to improve diagnosis, treatment and care for valve patients through patient advocacy and policy engagement. The charity campaigns to raise awareness, reduce inequalities and ensure timely access to life-saving interventions. Heart Valve Voice regularly publishes patient experience data to inform service improvement.
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5. Rosseel L, Mylotte D, Cosyns B, et al. Contemporary European practice in transcatheter aortic valve implantation: results from the 2022 European TAVI Pathway Registry. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2023;10:1227217.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1227217
6. Valve for Life UK. UK Valve Data. 2020. Available from:
https://www.valveforlife.co.uk/ uk-valve-data
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