Atrial Fibrillation: Detect, Perfect, Protect

Programme Brief

From 2017 - 2020, the Health Innovation Network was driving the spread and adoption of AF best practice across the country to improve care and outcomes for patients. This national programme of work focussed on the three key elements of the AF pathway:Detect – Raising public awareness of AF and the importance of pulse rhythm testing to identify those with undiagnosed...

Detect – Raising public awareness of AF and the importance of pulse rhythm testing to identify those with undiagnosed AF
Protect – Supporting healthcare professionals to offer optimal anticoagulation medication to all those who would benefit
Perfect – Supporting patients with their anticoagulation medication and supporting clinicians to review patients with AF.

Over the course of the national HIN AF programme (2015/16 – 2019/20) our work has:

The Atrial Fibrillation (AF) programme across Wessex had 3 aims. To detect AF; to protect people with AF from stroke and to perfect treatment of patients with AF.

Over the past four years, the programme has seen fantastic engagement and results in its work to reduce strokes in patients with Atrial Fibrillation. In Wessex 84.6% (18/19 QOF) of high risk patients with AF are prescribed anticoagulants against a target of 84%; 4447 new cases of AF were detected in 18/19, and the stroke rate in people known to have AF has reduced from 191 to 137 per 10,000 people since 2014.

One final element of this programme involved the development of an anticoagulation counselling pathway from secondary to primary and community care in collaboration with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For the final report please follow this link

Atrial Fibrillation: Detect, Protect, Perfect

Programme Brief

Atrial Fibrillation Resources

Starting Anticoagulation with Jack

Optimising Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation