Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of NHS capacity in the East Midlands to manage long-term cardiovascular care.

The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework, published in July, sets a clear direction for how the health and care system should accelerate progress on the Government’s ambition to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by a quarter within a decade.

Cardiovascular disease is a major focus within the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Northamptonshire health systems. It is one of three strategic transformation priorities within the Five-Year Strategic Commissioning Plan, 2026/27 to 2030/31.

The Renewed Women’s Health Strategy for England, published in April, sets out how we will improve women's health outcomes over the next decade, through systemic changes that will help tackle leading causes of death amongst women, including cardiovascular disease. As part of this prevention-focused approach, menopause will soon be included in routine NHS health checks for over 40 year olds, helping women understand menopause symptoms, including its links to cardiovascular health, and access appropriate support.