As life-saving drugs are made available to 610,000 additional patients, thousands will be spared from strokes

With blood thinner drugs being available to 610,000 additional patients, thousands of strokes and deaths can be avoided.

The NHS will increase its use of direct oral Anticoagulants (DOACs), which can help prevent strokes.

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They work by treating and preventing blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.

Speaking at NHS Providers conference, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said: “The agreements struck by NHS England will save thousands of lives and prevent many more people suffering the debilitating effects of strokes by making this treatment available to hundreds of thousands more patients.

“The health service now has a proven track record of striking deals with manufacturers to ensure patients in England get cutting-edge care at a price which offers best value for taxpayers.

“As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, tackle the backlogs of care which have been created and maintain momentum in the NHS Covid vaccination programme, we are also determined to keep delivering more innovation and greater efficiency in patients’ care.”

The NHSX chief explained that in addition to expanding the use and availability of drugs, NHSX also uses cutting-edge technology for diagnosing patients with potentially fatal heart diseases.

A pilot program involved more than 5,000 individuals receiving wearable patches that used AI technology to monitor heart rate and diagnose potentially fatal conditions.

The technology gives clinicians all the information they need in order to diagnose quickly and begin treatment. Patients don’t have to go to many tests or visit hospitals.

After NICE had recommended DOACs for prevention of AF-related stroke, the agreement was reached.

Up to £40 million investment will also be made in ‘Detect, Protect and Perfect’Pathway initiatives that will assist in identifying people with AF, and moving them to appropriate and effective treatment.

NHS England national specialty adviser for cardiovascular disease prevention Helen Williams said: “The new agreement for these drugs is good news for the estimated 1.5 million people in England with atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heart rhythm that causes one in five strokes.

“Not only is stroke one of the biggest killers in our country, but it leads to life-changing and often devastating long-term harm for many others, so by ensuring these drugs are made available for all people with AF who are at risk of stroke, the NHS will not only prevent serious harm to the people affected, but avoid the need for aftercare which puts additional pressure on the health service.

“Tackling heart disease and stroke is a top priority in the NHS Long Term Plan, which will save thousands of lives by better diagnosis and treatment for people with killer conditions.”