If we can give the clot-busting medication within an hour of chest pains, we can save quite a significant number of patients

Dr Raj Shekhar

In rural areas the journey to hospital and the time it takes for doctors to assess patients can mean that treatment is delayed.

The aim is to give clot-busting drugs to patients earlier in a bid to improve their chances of survival.

The new equipment measures heart rhythm on the ambulance and is relayed by mobile phone back to heart specialists at the hospital.

Life-saving

Doctors can then use the information to assess the patient and administer clot-busting drugs as soon as they arrive at the unit.

"If we can give the clot-busting medication within an hour of chest pains, we can save quite a significant number of patients," said Dr Raj Shekhar, a heart specialist at West Wales General Hospital.

Clinical operations officer Karen Pitt said : This way the doctor is examining the patient up to half an hour earlier and he will instruct the paramedic to give the drug."

"This is saving an awful lot of time and minutes save lives," she said.

When the pilot scheme, involving around 400 patients, comes to an end in November it is hoped that the beneifts of early treatment will be proved.

Then paramedics will be allowed to administer clot-busting drugs, requested by the doctor, while the patient is still on the ambulance travelling to the hospital.