A national audit commissioned by the British Heart Foundation found that two thirds of the heart-attack survivors are not getting the promised follow-up treatment and advice which could help them live longer.

The audit for England, Wales and Northern Ireland found that only 30 percent patients who underwent an angioplasty attended cardiac rehabilitation and about 68 percent who had a bypass surgery got this facility.

This can be attributed to the shortage of cardiac nurses due to which only one third time is spent on physiotherapy out of the prescribed duration. Women were severely underrepresented. Coronary disease is the biggest killer in the UK. A typical cardiac rehabilitation program includes- nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians, psychologists and occupational therapists- which could increase the chances of survival by 26 percent.

Professor Bob Lewin, of the British Heart Foundation, cited lack of awareness and medical referrals to explain why a third of patients offered the service didn't take it. "Many patients are simply not aware that it exists or that they should be doing it," he said.

To make the situation better the health staff needs to spread awareness in the patients about the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation and its availability.