Call to needle times after acute myocardial infarction

BMJ 1999;318:597 ( 27 February )

Letters

Call to needle times after acute myocardial infarction

Delay in calling for help for chest pain

Acute myocardial infarction at sea can be treated promptly

In Sandwell, patients are advised to dial 999 rather than call their GP

Author's reply

Delay in calling for help for chest pain

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ We agree with the central message of Rawles et al's article, that for patients with acute myocardial infarction thefirst medical attendant has the ideal opportunity to provide earlythrombolysis.¹ Rawles et al show the massive reduction in callto needle times achieved when thrombolysis is given by the generalpractitioner who first attends thepatient.

We audited the provision of thrombolysis in Sheffield between 1996 and 1997, and there are striking differences between ourresults and those of Rawles et al. The policy of Sheffield DistrictHealth Authority is to encourage patients with chest pain to callan ambulance; general practitioners are encouraged to facilitateimmediate transfer to hospital and not to delay this until aftervisiting thepatient.

Rawles et al found that 32% of patients in urban areas with acute myocardial infarction called an ambulance rather than theirgeneral practitioner. In Sheffield, 80.3% of patients called an. . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Stewart, A, Rao, J, Osho-Williams, G, Fairfield, M, Ahmad, R (2002). Audit of primary care angina management in Sandwell, England. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 122: 112-117 [Abstract]
Sandler, D. A, Thomas, P D, Rawles, J. (1999). Call to needle times after acute myocardial infarction. BMJ 318: 1553a-1553 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Slack use of language!: J C Bradley
bmj.com, 3 Mar 1999 [Full text]
The GP's role in acute myocardial infarction: P D Thomas
bmj.com, 3 Mar 1999 [Full text]
Call to needle time after acute myocardial infarction: David A Sandler
bmj.com, 23 Mar 1999 [Full text]