London has best cardiac arrest survival rate in England

During 2011-12 in London, 30 per cent of the Utstein group of patients – whose cardiac arrest was witnessed, as a result of a heart problem, rather than a major trauma, and whose heart had not completely stopped - were discharged from hospital alive.

This compares to 22.8 per cent in the capital during 2010-11.

South Central Ambulance Trust Foundation Trust, the worst performing in England, according to the figures, had survival rates of just 10.8 per cent. The national median was about 20 per cent.

(Source: London Ambulance Service)

London Ambulance Service medical director Fiona Moore said: “To have almost a third of our patients being discharged is absolutely fantastic.

“London’s survival rate is the highest in the country and among the highest comparable figures published in Europe, with only Stavanger in Norway recording better outcomes at 52 per cent.” However, relatively few places in Europe report their performance in this area.

Dr Moore told HSJ “co-operation” between all parts of the system was key to the improvement.

Since 2005 London has had eight heart attack centres which ambulance crews take patients too directly, bypassing other emergency departments. There has also been a focus on stabilising the patient at the scene before they are moved and an increase in incidences of bystanders attempting resuscitation with control room staff often talking them through how to do chest compressions.

There are also 750 defibrillators stationed across London at busy transport hubs and other public places with staff trained to use them.

London Ambulance Service has been focusing on improving survival rates since 1998. However, survival rates for patients in the Utstein group have only been reported nationally in the past year following the introduction of ambulance clinical indictors.

Dr Moore told HSJ the data collection systems in London were more “mature” and this could have affected performance of other ambulance trusts who had not been collecting figures as long.

“Missing a bit of data here and there can be significant because numbers are small. It can be difficult to get the outcome data from hospitals.”