NHS figures released today show that both category 2 ambulance times and cardiac waiting lists have dropped 🚑📉
It’s encouraging to see some improvements in waiting times, and we hope to see continued focus on the drivers of success throughout the year, to reduce suffering and save lives. ❤️🩹
↪️That's why it's so important to strengthen the evidence base on policies which could improve dietary health across the population, particularly those which incentivise the food industry to create healthier products.🍎🥦
↪️In the UK, our environment makes it incredibly difficult for individuals to eat healthily, and obesity prevalence remains stubbornly high. ⬆️⚖️
↪️ Nesta's analysis found that an unhealthy food tax could:
✂️Cut adult obesity prevalence by 16-19% over five years
💵Raise £1.6bn in annual tax revenue five years after implementation
💰Deliver £9.5-12bn each year through reduced obesity
🧵New modelling from @nestauk.bsky.social suggests that a tax on unhealthy foods (those high in fat, salt or sugar) could drive reformulation, reduce obesity, and raise revenue for the Government to reinvest in public health. 🍽️
👀Read the report here: www.nesta.org.uk/report/model...
This afternoon, Peers will complete their scrutiny of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at its Third Reading in the House of Lords 🏛️
With Royal Assent in sight, we’re looking forward to celebrating the passage of this landmark legislation into law, bringing us one step closer to a Smokefree UK 🚭
↪️ Our report calls on healthcare systems to adopt an opportunistic, life-course approach to monitoring women’s cardiovascular health 👇
www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/file...
↪️ Since then, we've published 'Bridging Hearts', a report which brings together evidence exploring why many women face significant barriers to accessing the right care for their cardiovascular health.
↪️ Check out our response to the 2022 call for evidence to inform the original Women's Health Strategy here 👇
www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/file...
With International Women’s Day yesterday, and the UK Government looking to refresh the Women’s Health Strategy for England, we’re reflecting on some of our past work highlighting the unique barriers many women face in trying to access adequate and timely CVD diagnosis and treatment 🫀
Great to be at the Prevention Research Conference yesterday! ❤️
Lots of thoughtful discussions on the opportunities and challenges for preventing non-communicable diseases and reducing health inequalities in the UK.
#preventionresearch26
@nihr.bsky.social @phiuk.bsky.social
BHF has the necessary experience and expertise to help shape and build trust in the service and we look forward to continuing this discussion.
It was great to attend the APPG for Life Science’s breakfast roundtable this morning.
The Health Data Research Service marks a huge opportunity for the UK’s research ecosystem, so it is good to hear from the new CEO Mel Ivarsson about her plans for the service.
↪️We welcomed the Strategy when it was published last year, and will continue to advocate for timely access to cardiovascular care for all men through its implementation 🤝
www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/n...
ICYMI 📢 Writing for @thekingsfund.bsky.social, Professor Paul Galdas argues the success of England’s Men’s Health Strategy will depend on how healthcare systems respond 🏥
www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...
Wendy Chamberlain MP wearing Heart Month badge
Thank you @wendychambld.bsky.social for wearing your Heart Month badge while speaking in the Chamber earlier this week!
It has been great to see so many MPs from across the House wearing their badges throughout February and demonstrating their support for heart health ❤️
BHF has signed a joint statement calling on Government to introduce a 'Good Food Bill' to transform the UK food system and improve access to healthier diets across the population.
This is key to making the healthy choice the easy choice, for everyone 🤝
@sustainweb.org @foodfoundation.bsky.social
Thank you to Paul Foster MP for your powerful column in the Lancashire Telegraph marking #HeartMonth and sharing your personal experience of CVD ❤️
www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/2588311...
With as many as 18,000 cardiovascular disease deaths attributable to smoking every year in the UK, this is a historic step towards preventing the harm caused by smoking, marking progress towards a Smokefree UK 🚭
Fantastic news from the House of Lords yesterday! Peers voted overwhelmingly in support of the generational smoking ban in the Tobacco & Vapes Bill
📢The Tobacco and Vapes Bill returns to the House of Lords today for Report Stage 🏦
We urge all Peers to support the Bill, ensuring it progresses through Parliament without further delay and is enshrined in law as soon as possible 🚭
↪️CVD is one of the biggest drivers of health inequalities in the UK, and rates of CVD are significantly higher in more deprived areas 💔
We’re calling for cross-govt action across the entire cardiac pathway to help tackle CVD inequalities.
Read our analyses here 👇
www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/o...
🆕analysis of ONS data by @ippr.org shows that healthy life expectancy has continued to fall, with wide variations across England, mirroring socioeconomic inequalities 👇
www.ippr.org/media-office...
Good to see Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton confirm public health grant allocations earlier this week, including the first multi-year settlement in over a decade ⬇️
questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
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↪️ Delays can mean the difference between recovery, lifelong illness, or losing someone too soon. We’ll keep pushing for timely, high‑quality care for heart patients & their families when it matters most. 💪
🧵🚑 Latest NHS figures for England show that average ambulance response times for heart attacks & strokes were 35 minutes in January. That's far too long for life‑threatening emergencies where every minute counts. ⏱️❤️
↪️ It is intended for healthcare professionals, policymakers and the general public.
↪️ This non-promotional policy paper has been developed and funded by AstraZeneca, with input from partner organisations and is intended to raise awareness of the burden of cardiovascular disease care and make recommendations for improvements.
ICYMI 📢👀The CVD-risk Coalition, of which BHF is a member, has published “Getting to the Heart of the Matter”, a national action plan for CVD. It calls for policy change on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for CVD and risk conditions. Read it here: astrazeneca.co.uk/content/dam/...
Great to see @alisonebennett.bsky.social wearing her #HeartMonth BHF badge today in the House of Commons Chamber, showing her support for heart health!
📣A reminder for MPs, please wear your badges throughout February to also show your support ❤️
