Actioning atrial fibrillation identified in ambulances
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Real-time ambulance to GP notification of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: A digital solution to prevent stroke
IRAS ID
347253
Contact name
Michelle Jackson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 17 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) are common heart rhythm problems which significantly increase a person’s risk of stroke. This risk can be reduced with treatment (oral anticoagulation medication). However, many people have AF and no symptoms that bring their AF to the attention of a doctor. This means that they are not on treatment, and so remain at risk of stroke.
Ambulance clinicians can identify AF using a heart trace (electrocardiogram, ECG). We have previously shown that they often identify AF by chance as part of their assessments – but no ambulance service in the UK has a robust system for ensuring that this finding is passed on to the general practitioner (GP) for review and follow up. Currently, individual clinicians contact GPs directly to let them know when AF is identified, which is not always possible and can take time. We have spoken with patients, GPs, paramedics and system leaders who reported that a better process is needed, which should be tested to check that it works.
In partnership with ambulance clinicians and GPs, we have developed a new tool within the existing ambulance electronic patient care record so that we can automatically send a letter to the GP, with the ECG attached, for patients in whom incidental AF is detected - and train ambulance clinicians on how to use it.
After the function has been activated we will check how often it is used – and whether or not the GP record has been updated with the AF diagnosis and if appropriate medication was then prescribed. Data from comparator patients in the year before the intervention was live will also be analysed.
If the tool is effective, national roll-out would be facilitated by the fact that many ambulance services use the same, or similar, electronic patient record systems.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/WM/0182
Date of REC Opinion
25 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion