More than 400 with heart valve condition dying each year on NHS waiting list, research finds

Hundreds of patients with aortic stenosis (AS) die each year due to long NHS waiting times for the life-saving Tavi procedure, which treats the condition that weakens the heart’s aortic valve. Despite calls from experts like Dr Jon Byrne, who found 8% of AS patients on the waiting list die before treatment, the UK lags far behind other European countries in performing Tavi. The procedure is critical but underutilized, with delays leading to unnecessary deaths and strain on NHS resources. Experts emphasize that earlier treatment could save lives, yet systemic inefficiencies continue to put patients at risk.