Strokes prevented by prescriptions

Prescribing more drugs helped stop 19 strokes this year, health bosses have estimated.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th May 2016, 14:24 BST
Updated 7th May 2016, 15:30 BST
Dr Felicity Guest, Thornton GP and clinical lead for prescribing at Fylde and Wyre CCGDr Felicity Guest, Thornton GP and clinical lead for prescribing at Fylde and Wyre CCG
Dr Felicity Guest, Thornton GP and clinical lead for prescribing at Fylde and Wyre CCG

Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commission Group (CCG) said increasing the amount of blood-thinning medication handed out by doctors also helped save £200,000.

The drugs were given to atients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.

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Dr Felicity Guest, a GP in Thornton and the CCG’s clinical lead for prescribing, said: “Some of our GPs were unsure about prescribing blood-thinning medications to frail and elderly patients but through this extensive work with our local practices we were able to start changing this attitude.

“We have now written to more than 300 patients in Fylde and Wyre to explain how they could benefit from blood-thinners and prescribing of these medications is on the increase.

“Our work in this area will continue as we do all we can to improve the health and wellbeing of our local population.

“This also makes sense due to the amount of money we can save by having to treat fewer stroke patients.”

Related topics:CCGFyldeThornton