NHS Wirral Atrial Fibrillation Joint Working Executive Summary

Project title

A project to improve outcomes in untreated or sub-optimally treated Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients in the Wirral.

Partners involved

• Boehringer Ingelheim Limited
• NHS Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

Project description

What is the local picture in Wirral CCG?

• AF prevalence within Wirral CCG is 2.8% vs a national average of 2.4%.²
• According to the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) 2015/16, there was a total exception population of 700 (5.2% of AF population).³
• Of the 628 patients admitted as a result of a stroke in 2015/16 for Wirral CCG, a total of 163 patients had a confirmed prior diagnosis of AF. Only 33.7% of the 163 AF related stroke admissions were on any form of anticoagulation.⁴

1. Build confidence in primary care to manage AF effectively as per local and national guidelines.
2. Support General Practitioners (GPs) to identify untreated or sub-optimally treated AF patients and to set action plans to review and treat appropriate patients. AF audits to be run annually.
3. Reduce unplanned admissions and referrals into secondary care.
4. Reduce the number of AF related strokes.

Stakeholder benefits

Benefits for patients

• Improved counselling from Health Care Professionals (HCP’s) as to benefits and side effects of Non-vitamin K antagonist Oral Anti-Coagulant (NOAC) usage.
• Improved patient experience of an engagement with healthcare services.
• Increased percentage of patients being treated in line with national guidelines.
• Improved quality of care for patients with AF.
• Reduced number of patients being referred to secondary care.
• Reduced number of patients having unplanned admissions to hospital.

Benefits for NHS

• Improved Primary Care confidence in optimising the management of AF patients as per local and national guidelines.
• Early intervention in the care of AF patients will reduce pressures on NHS services further downstream.
• Reduced number of AF strokes within the Wirral.
• Reduced number of emergency hospital admissions relating to AF related stroke for Wirral CCG.

Benefits for Boehringer Ingelheim

• Improved understanding of the challenges and support needed to implement AF outcome improvements.
• Ability to share learnings from this project to other regions across the UK to support improved overall patient care.
• Recognition as a trusted partner in Joint Working projects.
• Increased appropriate use of AF treatments, which may include medicines manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Start date

Expected duration

References