Variation in heart attack patient care 'unacceptable' Nationwide, some 2,000 patients a year are being "neglected" by not being offered cardiac rehabilitation, which includes advice on how to change one's lifestyle to avoid another attack, according to research by Heart UK, the cholesterol charity. Across England, some 95 per cent of heart attack patients are being offered cardiac rehabilitation. However, that varies from 99.8 per cent at Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust to just 36.7 per cent at Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The counselling service, that helps patients understand their condition, their medication and what steps they can take to reduce their chances of another attack, has been proven to reduce mortality rates by up to 25 per cent. Jules Payne, chief executive of Heart UK, described the variation in care as "unacceptable." He said: "It is encouraging that many patients are offered cardiac rehabilitation after they have had a heart attack but the variation in uptake across the country is unacceptable. Action is needed on both a national and local level to ensure that all patients are offered this service to help them to recover and return to normal life as soon as possible after their heart attack. Heart UK is deeply concerned that in some areas of the country less than 40 per cent of patients are undertaking cardiac rehabilitation so there is a huge educational job to be done as well. Patients have such an increased chance of recovery if they undertake the vital and tremendously valuable aftercare that hospitals should be providing to all.