More lives can be saved if the injection is given in the first hour

Family doctors in St Just have been administering life-saving injections to heart attack victims in their homes in a pilot scheme.

Now the West of Cornwall Primary Care Trust says the work should be carried out by paramedics and hospital staff.

But GPs claim they can reach patients more quickly.

Isolated population

The three GPs at St Just have undergone 18 months of specialist training to carry out the treatment, known as domiciliary thrombolysis.

Dr David Carruthers says the aim is to reach patients as quickly as possible.

He said: "We have a very isolated, scattered population.

"To be able to get to a patient quickly and deliver this treatment is absolutely vital."

The GPs claim they can reach heart attack victims in an average of 19 minutes. They say it can take ambulance crews twice as long.

Every minute of delay in giving thrombolysis can result in 11 days of future life lost Graham Brown, Westcountry Ambulance Trust

The West Cornwall Primary Care Trust said: "We have assessed the available evidence and decided it is more appropriate to provide the service through the Westcountry Ambulance Service.

"We will not be making further comment at this time."

A spokesman for Westcountry Ambulance Trust, Graham Brown, says it is essential the treatment is delivered quickly.

"Statistics show that 65 lives per thousand people treated can be saved if the injection is given within one to two hours," he said.

"Every minute of delay in giving thrombolysis can result in 11 days of future life lost."

Mr Brown says ambulance response times vary, but concedes in very rural areas GPs could possibly get to their patient more quickly.

Mr Brown said: "The GPs in Cornwall are particularly pro-active.

"That's good for patients and for the ambulance service, who welcome their support."

He believes it should be the first qualified person to arrive who should administer the thrombolysis to the patient.