Anthony Anandan, ICHP Innovation Delivery Lead, talks about our new programme to improve detection of Atrial Fibrillation across North West London….
At ICHP we are eagerly awaiting delivery of several hundred Kardia mobile ECG devices, which are being distributed by NHS England as part of a nationwide programme to improve detection of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) across the country. Atrial Fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat, accounting for approximately 20% of all strokes across England, and in North West London we know there are currently around 17,000 people with undetected AF at the moment. The Kardia devices, produced by AliveCor, are medical-grade mobile ECG tools which enable GPs to detect within 30 seconds whether patients have AF, and therefore what course of effective anti-coagulation treatment they need to take. Read more here.
The devices are being distributed to all AHSNs by NHS England as part of a nationwide programme aiming to improve detection of AF across the country, and therefore reduce the incidences of AF-related stroke. We are confident that by using this innovative technology GPs across North West London can start to quickly identify some of the undiagnosed AF sufferers across our area, and put them on the most effective drug treatment available. We’re looking forward to seeing what positive impacts the devices will bring, and we’ll be measuring this impact over the next few months. AF is a devastating condition which can cause serious damage to a person’s health or even result in death, and we’re keen to start improving detection of AF in our area as soon as possible.
We’ve now written to all GPs across North West London to offer them a free Kardia device. They can register to receive a device online, and all devices are being issued on a first-come first-served basis. If you would like to find out more, don’t hesitate to contact me on anthony.anandan@imperialcollegehealthpartners.com
