Cardiac arrest survival rates high at RD&E

Well over a third of patients who suffered cardiac arrest at the RD&E Hospital in Exeter last year survived and were later discharged from hospital compared to 18% nationally, a clinical study has found.

The latest National Cardiac Arrest Audit Report compared hospital cardiac arrest survival data for the period April-December 2014. Some 37.5% of patients at the RD&E survived and were later discharged compared to a national average of 18.4% at hospitals across England. The percentage applies to those patients who suffered cardiac arrest in the RD&E and who were given cardiopulmonary resuscitation via chest compressions and/or defibrillation by the hospital’s resuscitation team.

The results demonstrate the exceptional clinical standards provided at the RD&E along with the hospital’s commitment to high quality training and best practice in resuscitation procedures.

Dr Gavin Lloyd, RD&E Consultant Emergency Physician and Trust Lead Clinician for Resuscitation, said: “These results are outstanding and they are a general reflection of the quality of clinical care in the RD&E.

“In light of the recommendations made in the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death in 2012, we have worked hard to strengthen resuscitation training and procedures in the Trust supported by two dedicated resuscitation training officers.

“As well as focusing on the quality of our clinical care and training, a key focus for us is respecting and dignifying the wishes of patients and/or their carers around the sensitive issue of resuscitation and ensuring these wishes are recorded and integrated into our clinical decision-making as appropriate.

“Staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve these results and our mission now is to maintain this level of excellence so that RD&E patients continue to get the best possible chance of survival in the unlikely event they suffer cardiac arrest while in the RD&E.”