Big Medicine

Canberra ACT--ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher MLA, today launched an initiative that will ensure that any person in the ACT who experiences a heart attack and who is attended by an ambulance will have direct access to best practice treatment at the Canberra Hospital, regardless of where that person lives.

"The recommended treatment for a heart attack is an emergency procedure to unblock the arteries and restore blood flow to the heart muscle as quickly as possible," Ms Gallagher said.

"This emergency procedure is available at the Canberra Hospital," she said.

"The initiative I've launched today enables ACT Ambulance Service paramedics to send clinical information from the scene to the Canberra Hospital so that the doctors and staff can prepare for the person's arrival and immediate treatment."

The Minister said the ‘on board' technology allowed paramedics to electronically transmit an electrocardiogram from the scene to medical staff at TCH to facilitate early clinical decision making and early activation of the Cardiac Catheter Laboratory, improving the time to treatment.

"Previously, residents from the north side of the ACT would have usually been transported to Calvary Hospital before being transferred to the Canberra Hospital," Ms Gallagher said.

Ms Gallagher said Priority Access to Treatment had been jointly developed by staff of Canberra's public hospitals and ACT Ambulance Service with input from the National Heart Foundation.

"I welcome the introduction of this initiative that helps to ensure patients are rapidly transported to the most appropriate hospital for the most appropriate treatment," she said.

Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of over 40,000 Australians each year.

"I also take this opportunity to remind anyone experiencing chest pain to please call an ambulance on triple zero. This is the safest way to get the right help fast."