Health researcher plays key role in launch of new quality standards for cardiac arrest survivors
Glasgow Caledonian University physiotherapy lecturer and researcher Dr Vicky Joshi joined the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) and Public Health Minister Jenni Minto at the Scottish Parliament to launch a new quality standard for cardiac arrest survivors.
RCUK has teamed up with Ms Minto to help cardiac arrest survivors and their families make the best possible recovery. RCUK hosted a Scottish Parliamentary event recently to present a new ‘My Right to Cardiac Arrest Recovery – Survivors Quality Standard’, and to ask MSPs to make it part of Scotland’s Heart and Disease Action Plan.
A cardiac arrest is the ultimate medical emergency, when the heart stops beating, and the individual is clinically dead. Every year 3,000 people in Scotland suffer a cardiac arrest, yet they don’t have the same rehabilitation services and psychological support as those who have suffered a stroke, heart attack or been diagnosed with cancer.
A new collaboration between health, charity, and research organisations will support the delivery of the RCUK quality standard in Scotland. The Save A Life for Scotland - Recovery initiative will work alongside the successful Save A Life For Scotland campaign partnership, which has seen a 50% increase in the number of cardiac arrest survivors since 2015.
Dr Joshi, who is a member of RCUK Cardiac Arrest Quality Standard group and a lecturer in the School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS) gave a speech about her cardiac arrest recovery research and spoke to Ms Minto about the Save A Life For Scotland – Recovery initiative. She is leading an evaluation of the new Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland Bystander Support Service, funded by the Scottish Government, in collaboration with Save A Life For Scotland.
The results will be used to improve the existing support service and inform bystander support services internationally. Dr Joshi is also co-ordinating a new collaboration called BASIC (Bystander Aftercare and Support International Collaboration) which brings together researchers, clinicians and third sector organisations to share information on how to set up and run bystander aftercare services.
Ms Minto gave the keynote speech at the Parliamentary event and commended RCUK on the publication of the Survivor Quality Standards. Access the quality standard - https://www.resus.org.uk/library/quality-standards-cpr/quality-standards-survivors
Ms Minto said: “I spoke to many cardiac arrest survivors and their families, who told me that as a result of a cardiac arrest, they often struggle with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress.
“It makes me all the more determined to ensure timely and appropriate support and the best aftercare for survivors, bystanders and first responders.
“Although one in ten now survive out of hospital cardiac arrest, every life lost is a tragedy and I know we can do more. So, I commend RCUK on publication of the Survivor Quality Standard.”
Following a cardiac arrest, nearly half (50%) of survivors have mild cognitive impairment and four in ten report limitations due to physical difficulties.
Dr Joshi, who is part of the Ageing Well Research Group in the SHLS Research Centre for Health (ReaCH), said: "Many cardiac arrest survivors fall between existing health services. Save A Life For Scotland - Recovery will bring organisations together to develop a Scottish post-cardiac arrest pathway based on the RCUK Quality Standards, ensuring survivors can access both existing services and specialist support when needed."
Dr Joshi is a highly respected researcher in cardiac arrest interventions and rehabilitation. She has been invited to speak on long-term cognitive decline after cardiac arrest at the American Heart Association Resuscitation Scientific Sessions on November 16 and 17.
She will also share her expertise at The Scottish Cardiac Arrest Symposium on October 3, The European Resuscitation Conference in Athens at the end of October, and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Interest Group Scotland Conference in Edinburgh on November 8.
Photo (left to right) – James Cant, CEO of RCUK, Public Health Minister Jenni Minto, Dr Vicky Joshi and Andy Lockey, President of RCUK.