By Vanessa Chalmers Health Reporter For Mailonline
Published: 00:01 BST, 4 June 2019 | Updated: 00:45 BST, 4 June 2019
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Heart failure patients across the UK face a 'postcode lottery' in the NHS care they receive, according to a report.
Researchers uncovered a 'worrying wide variation' and 'lack of consistency' in the level of care received across the home nations.
The British Heart Foundation described the differences as being 'stark' - the worst-performing regions were not named.
Health watchdog NICE updated its guidelines for the treatment of chronic heart failure nine months ago.
The body said hospital units for people with chronic heart failure should include a specialist trained in the condition, such as a cardiologist.
However, a survey of nearly 80 health providers in the UK found one in seven services have no such doctor.
Heart failure patients face a 'postcode lottery' in health care as hospitals across the UK are not meeting recommended care standards, according to a report by the British Heart Foundation [File photo]
In a quarter of the services, people with heart failure are cared for by just one or two nurses.
The study, led by pharmaceutical giant Novartis, found the best-served providers had more than seven nurses.
A total of 24 had no admin staff - forcing doctors and nurses to spend time doing paperwork rather than treating patients.
The study, led by Novartis' heart failure expert Helena Master, were presented at the British Cardiovascular Society Conference in Manchester.
Ms Masters said: 'These findings show that there is a worrying lack of consistency in heart failure services provided across the UK.
'Around one in seven of the services