Scottish Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest data linkage project: 2015/16 – 2016/17 results

Preface to the report

Now in the third year after the launch of Scotland's Strategy for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (the Strategy) in March 2015 we have reviewed the data from 2015-16 and 2016-17 in order to continue to track patient outcomes and measure the impact of efforts to implement the strategic aims.

Strategy partners have implemented a range of initiatives over the last 2 years designed to deliver increased survival after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ( OHCA) by optimising the Chain of Survival. The figures contained in this report indicate that survival after OHCA is increasing. A key metric - the proportion of patients receiving bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR) - has increased since the strategy launch bringing with it a predictable concomitant increase in 30 day survival.

It is important to remember that each of the survival figures contained in this report represents the reality of individual lives saved. We would like to commend all of those who continue to invest time and energy in improving survival and recovery after OHCA in Scotland.

The 'Augmented Chain of Survival' showing the elements required to save lives after OHCA ^[i]

Thanks: As always, this work requires the dedication and expertise of a range of individuals. We would like to publicly acknowledge the contribution of the following people to enabling the production of this report, whilst mindful of the help of many others who are not listed here.

Karen MacNee and Connie Smith
Planning and Quality Division, Health Quality and Strategy Directorate, DG Health and Social Care, Scottish Government

Fiona Campbell, Sian Nowell, David Titterington and Kathy McGregor
Information Services Division ( ISD), and electronic Data Research and Innovation Service, National Services Scotland

Katy Barclay, Richard Combe, Derek Milligan
Scottish Ambulance Service, Management Information Team

Authors:

Dr Gareth Clegg
Chair of the OHCA Strategy Delivery Group

Director, Save a Life for Scotland

Associate Medical Director, Scottish Ambulance Service

Hon Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh

Resuscitation Research Group Lead, University of Edinburgh

Dave Bywater
Consultant Paramedic,
Clinical Lead for OHCA,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Dr Nynke Halbesma
BHF Research Fellow, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh

Resuscitation Research Group, University of Edinburgh

Ellen Lynch
Health & Social Care Analysis Division Directorate for Population Health Scottish Government