Life-saving treatment hits London streets | Our news

Patients who suffer a cardiac arrest can now be treated by a pioneering life-saving machine on the streets of London before being taken to hospital.

Dr. Andrew Wragg, medical director at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said: “We’re really proud to be part of this important partnership and to play a role in improving outcomes for cardiac arrest patients across London.  

“The ECAT team forms a crucial link in the chain – acting as a bridge between first responders and specialist in-hospital care.  

“By the time a patient reaches us at Barts Heart Centre, they’ve already been given the best possible chance. We hope the lessons from this pioneering service can be shared more widely to benefit patients across the UK.”  

This is the first time ECMO has been taken outside a hospital setting and has been set up thanks to a collaboration between Barts Health NHS Trust, London’s Air Ambulance Charity and London Ambulance Service. The service is funded through the support of Barts Charity, The Cranbrook Foundation, Geoff & Fiona Squire Foundation, Jude Morris Innovation and Development Fund, and Getinge.  

Dr. Tom Hurst, Medical Director for London’s Air Ambulance Charity, added: “This is a collaboration focused on one thing – creating an opportunity for survival where it has never been before.  

“It represents a hugely exciting step in pre-hospital and resuscitation medicine in the UK, and we couldn’t do it without our partners at Barts Health and the London Ambulance Service.”  

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