Cardiac team rated the best

One of our region's hospitals are giving the FASTEST service in the country when it comes to treatment for heart attacks.

The Royal Berkshire Hospital's cardiac team is providing heart attack patients with the most efficient 24/7 service in England and Wales according to an official report.

The Minap (Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project) statistics released on Thursday 30 September show how quickly patients are provided with primary angioplasty - the gold standard treatment for heart attack patients.

It is vital that the treatment is provided as rapidly as possible following the heart attack.

The Minap report revealed that the national average between the 999 call for assistance and primary angioplasty being carried out is 79% within 150 minutes. The Royal Berkshire Hospital team's figures for the past year were 96% within that time - the best for any hospital providing a 24/7 service. And within 90 minutes of arriving at the hospital 94% had undergone the primary angioplasty procedure.

Heart speaks to Dr MacKenna who carries out the procedure here.

Heart speaks to one of the hospital's latest patients Pearl Brosn from Tilehurst here.