New figures show the chances of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in London are higher than anywhere else in England and among the best in Europe.
Almost a third of patients (32%) treated by the London Ambulance Service were resuscitated and discharged from hospital in 2011/12.
The East of England has the second highest survival rate (24.4%) and the South Central region the lowest (10.8%). Across Europe only Stavanger in Norway has published a higher survival rate (52 per cent) than London’s.
Ten years ago the capital’s survival rate was just 5%. The LAS says the increase is “primarily due to staff reaching patients quickly and delivering more effective clinical care.”
The Service’s cardiac arrest annual report 2011/12 also shows an increase in the number of members of the public attempting CPR while waiting for ambulance staff to arrive.
Experts say performing CPR “immediately” after cardiac arrest doubles the chances of chance of survival.
Earlier this year the LAS backed a British Heart Foundation campaign encouraging members of the public to use chest compressions, but not mouth-to-mouth, if they witness a cardiac arrest.
Commenting on the latest survival figures, LAS Medical Director Fionna Moore said: “These figures are excellent news for Londoners as they show a marked increase in the number of patients who have left hospital after an event which previously was regarded as fatal.”
