Heart patients get faster treatment

The monitor could increase patients' life expectancy

Heart patients in Staffordshire will get life-saving treatment faster thanks to a new monitor linked to a mobile phone.

The Zoll monitoring system sends the patient's heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels direct to a hospital doctor from the scene of the incident.

Doctors can then authorise paramedics to administer the necessary treatment.

John Wright, from Staffordshire Ambulance, said the monitor will help increase life expectancy.

John Wright: "Increase life expectancy"

"Every minute's delay you get in the treatment of heart patients reduces life expectancy by three months," he said.

"If we can get treatment to them at the scene and save the transport time then we can increase their life expectancy and reduce the risk of any complications later on."

The three monitors, which are being piloted in the area, send the vital information to doctors via a mobile phone attached to the system.

At a cost of £19,000 each they are more expensive than an ambulance and another 12 will be in operation in the area by the end of November.