Strokes caused by atrial fibrillation can be prevented. If all people with atrial fibrillation were diagnosed and treated, we could prevent about 4,500 strokes per year and 3,000 deaths. This could lead to a saving of about £134.5 million per year.
Atrial fibrillation can be easily screened for by a pulse check. We are campaigning to introduce pulse checks in the NHS to improve the number of people who are diagnosed so they can receive treatment.
There is a strong case for introducing pulse checks in the NHS:
- NHS Improvement’s recent PCT pilot studies of introducing pulse checks to screen for atrial fibrillation within the NHS Health Check programme and in season flu vaccination clinics have proved successful.
- Pulse checks are recommended to be included in the local NHS Health Check programme by NHS Improvement.
- The previous House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee recommended that PCTs introduce pulse checks in settings including seasonal flu vaccination clinics.
- NICE is currently considering incentivising GPs to introduce pulse checks for people aged over 65 in the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
We are leveraging public and political support to ensure that the Government introduces pulse checks in the NHS.
To support the Know Your Pulse campaign, please enter your postcode to the right and email your MP!
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Take two minutes to help us introduce pulse checks in the NHS and bring our heart to life. Email your MP to ask them to support the Know Your Pulse campaign.
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