The way in which people with heart failure are treated on the NHS has been criticised by an independent inspector.

A report from the Healthcare Commission says it is concerned about the extent of access patients have to the appropriate tests, drugs and specialist care.

Heart failure, which costs the NHS £625 million per year, affects 900,000 people in the UK, with the "extremely debilitating" condition killing 40 per cent of sufferers within the first year of diagnosis.

It most commonly arises following heart attacks or high blood pressure and reduces the amount of blood the heart is able to pump around the body.

The Healthcare Commission claims that the condition's symptoms of tiredness, shortness of breath and swollen ankles and feet are hindering treatment by being confused with less-serious health problems.

In the report, the watchdog's chief executive Anna Walker noted the "very positive" progress made since it conducted its last heart failure report in 2003/04.

But she goes on to say that "not all those that need treatment are getting it".

"Primary care trusts and GPs need to monitor the number of patients they deal with in comparison to national statistics. Symptoms and treatments need to be recorded and followed up by GPs.

"The care provided also needs to be audited so lessons can be learnt and improvements made."

Of the 303 primary care trusts evaluated in today's report, just 16 were rated 'excellent' in terms of treatment, with one in seven given a rating of 'weak'.

Commenting on the report, the British Heart Foundation's (BHF) Jackie Lodge said the way in which heart failure is treated on the NHS "cannot continue" and called for more specialist nurses to be employed on the health service.

"This cannot continue," she claimed. "The BHF believes every heart-failure patient has a right to be given high-quality care so they can manage their condition and symptoms and maximise their quality of life."
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