Launch of Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework

Source: DHSC and NHSE, 7 July 2026

The Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework sets out a 10-year plan to reduce early deaths from heart disease and stroke in England. It identifies 12 priorities to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic conditions, while reducing health inequalities and providing more care closer to home.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of premature mortality, second only to cancer. Each year, there are around 33,000 early deaths from heart disease and stroke in people under the age of 75. It drives profound health inequalities, avoidable pressure on the NHS, and significant economic loss.

After decades of progress, improvements in cardiovascular disease have stalled or reversed, with rising preventable risks such as obesity undermining efforts. Without rapid, co-ordinated system action, these trends will continue. The government has set a bold ambition: to reduce premature mortality from heart disease and stroke by 25% within 10 years. This modern service framework (MSF) sets out the strategic vision and delivery model for the health and care system to achieve the ambition over the next 10 years. Later this year, we will publish further information to support local systems to implement this framework, including further detail to help the system prioritise existing resource to deliver the activity set out in the MSF.

Central to the CVD MSF is a holistic cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CVKM) approach with a strong focus on reducing inequalities. This means recognising that several conditions and risk factors share common causes, cluster within the same individuals, and contribute to most heart attacks and strokes.

These include:
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• high blood sugar (capturing both pre-diabetes and diabetes)
• obesity
• chronic kidney disease
• atrial fibrillation
• smoking