Wiltshire ambulance staff able to treat rare heart condition (From Wiltshire Times)

Wiltshire ambulance staff able to treat rare heart condition

11:01am Monday 28th November 2011 in Wiltshire By Staff reporter

Wiltshire ambulance staff able to treat rare heart condition

Patients suffering from a common, but little-known, heart defect are being diagnosed more rapidly thanks to a new initiative pioneered by Great Western Ambulance Service.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that affects almost two per cent of the UK population – many of whom do not realise they have the condition.

Patients in Swindon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and the former Avon area, who dial 999 feeling unwell are now automatically screened for AF when attended by a paramedic but do not need to be taken to hospital.

Dave Coates, GWAS clinical development manager, has worked with the Atrial Fibrillation Association to introduce the screening process in GWAS – the first ambulance service in the country to develop the scheme.

“The scheme effectively incorporates the AF screening process into the clinical assessment of patients who do not need to go to hospital following their 999 call,” he said.

“Once the GWAS clinician on scene has made that decision, they now screen for undiagnosed AF or a high blood-pressure reading. If that shows the patient has AF or hypertension, they are provided with advice and information and the GWAS clinician will also give the patient a notification letter for their GP.”

Patients with AF have a significantly higher risk of suffering a stroke, and the condition also costs the NHS an estimated £1.8bn a year.

Earlier diagnosis of the condition through schemes such as the one pioneered by GWAS can reduce the human impact and the financial impact on the NHS.