Patients who suffer a minor heart attack are 20 per cent less likely to have a full episode if they are treated at a specialist cardiac centre, research has found.
Sufferers enjoyed the improved prospects if they attended one of the capital’s eight dedicated centres rather than a general hospital within 24 hours. They also spent less time as an inpatient — an average of three days instead of nine.
The survey by doctors at the London Chest Hospital, based on the treatment of 702 patients over six months, found there were considerable savings to the NHS — 1,866 fewer “bed days”.
Dr Ajay Jain, of the department of cardiology at the LCH, said taking patients directly to one of the centres improved their care.
He said: “London Ambulance Service will now bring patients directly to a specialist heart attack centre — no matter where in London they might fall ill.
“This will allow early diagnosis and treatment to be provided. By avoiding an unnecessary admission to a local hospital there are benefits to the health service as a result of a reduction of bed utilisation and delays.”
Last month the Standard revealed that a London Ambulance Service study found survival rates from the most serious heart attacks doubled as a result of paramedics being able to take patients direct to a specialist hospital rather than the nearest accident and emergency unit.
Some 66 per cent survived to be discharged from hospital several days later, compared to a normal rate of about 30 per cent.
Doctors at the LCH believe that many more lives could be saved if a faster and more proactive approach to treating potential heart attack patients was adopted across the NHS.
It would involve emergency department doctors in hospitals without a specialist cardiac centre conducting an ECG and a blood test on patients on admission to see if they have had a heart attack and, if so, immediately transferring them to a specialist cardiac centre.
