Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy heads up all-party group on vascular diseases

Labour’s Ms Hardy’s launched a campaign in January to combat the dramatic regional inequalities in lower limb amputations rates, and at her inaugural All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting, experts from around the country presented the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the provision of care for patients with disease affecting blood vessels.

It was demonstrated that the NHS was finding it even more difficult to provide the care needed to tackle this significant crisis.

As reported by the Yorkshire Post in January, northerners are 30 per cent more likely to have

their limb amputated than southerners, and patients in Hull with an ulcer were 75 per cent more likely to have a major amputation than the England average.

Mr Dan Carradice, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been the greatest challenge to face the NHS in its history. The NHS

family has battled to provide the best possible care with the resources made available and to save as many as possible during this pandemic.

“This situation has led to people with diseases such as vascular and venous disease being even less likely than before to access the treatment they need across the country. Patients are avoiding doctors and hospitals and most non-urgent operations have been cancelled.

“We are now at a point when we need to consider the future. Some call for recovery of the NHS as it was before; but a new vision of a bold rebirth is what is required if we are to ever meet the expectations, needs, and rights of the British people. Investment and change could ensure that people with common, life-threatening and debilitating diseases such as vascular and venous disease receive the best possible care, irrespective of where they live, or who they are.

“This would enable us to live the longest lives with the highest possible quality; which must surely represent a key goal of our society.”

Ms Hardy said: “The crisis facing vascular care is immense and the COVID-19 crisis has only made matters much worse, as we know vascular disease is the largest cause of foot and leg amputations in the UK.

“It is paramount that we have the vascular services available so we can protect and improve the lives of the people who desperately who suffer from vascular disease.

“I intend to raise these concerns directly with the Government to ensure our NHS front-line has the funding and the equipment to continue to carry out their essential work.”