An innovative technology which enables paramedics to more accurately diagnose heart attacks is being evaluated in an ambulance setting in two Greater Manchester localities.

The Atellica VTLi Patient-side Immunoassay Analyser from Siemens Healthineers measures troponin levels, a chemical biomarker released during a heart attack, producing accurate results in just eight minutes. The data is then assessed by the Troponin-only Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes (T-MACS) risk prediction algorithm, previously only available for use in a hospital setting such as an A&E department.

The technology is currently being evaluated by the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), as part of the Health Innovation Accelerator Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator programme, delivered in partnership between Health Innovation Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and The University of Manchester, which is evaluating a number of diagnostic technologies across the Greater Manchester region.

The technology is currently being used by paramedics operating out of Manchester Central Ambulance Station, Dukinfield Ambulance Station in Tameside and Ashton Ambulance Station, with over 320 patients tested to date since July 2024.

Depending on the results of the evaluation, it is hoped that the technology will enable paramedics to determine at the scene whether a patient dialling 999 for chest pain is definitely having a heart attack as chest pain is also a common symptom of other, less serious conditions such as severe indigestion. This will enable the paramedic to take the patient directly to the most appropriate secondary care location and for them to receive quicker, more personalised treatment when they arrive in hospital. The technology may also enable patients who definitely are not having a heart attack to be discharged at the scene, freeing up ambulance resources to attend to other life-threatening incidents.

To date, over 66 paramedics have received training to operate the testing device and have seen a 83% success rate for the troponin tests, with valuable lessons learned from the other 17% and with numbers set to increase as more clinicians and paramedics join the use of the technology.

Phil Jones, Clinical Innovation Consultant at North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said: “It’s fantastic to see this technology being evaluated across two localities in Greater Manchester, and the results to date are incredibly positive. We’ve seen a big spike in tests being delivered as more of our paramedics are being trained in how to undertake the test, so we’re confident that the results will only continue to improve.

“Our expectation is that overall, there will be significant time savings in the care pathway as the technology will enable paramedics to streamline patients to the most appropriate location for their subsequent care, rather than all patients being taken to their local A&E for further tests. We anticipate that patients will receive quicker treatment when they arrive at hospital and the number of secondary transfers between local A&E departments and specialist heart attack centres will be reduced.”

Prof. Richard Body, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of Research and Innovation at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) said: “This technology is providing tailored care to patients at the scene, which is critical to the patient’s journey in a pre-hospital setting if we want to give them the correct care once they come in the emergency department. We really are pushing boundaries here through this piece of work, and to have this technology in Greater Manchester is as much of a privilege as it is a challenge, as we’re breaking new ground for both the ambulance services and the Urgent and Emergency Care Departments who are utilising the testing kit.”

Caroline Dykeman, Senior Clinical Lead Innovation (RN) – Clinical Office at Health Innovation Manchester said: “This project is truly groundbreaking in the fact that this technology is enabling us in a community setting to identify with a high degree of certainty the people who are, and equally importantly those who are not experiencing a type of heart attack called a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Currently this can only be determined in a hospital environment.

“This earlier pre-hospital identification supports reaching a timelier diagnosis which enables us to fulfil one of our core aims in healthcare, that is, that patients access the right place and receive the right care, first time, every time.”

The Health Innovation Accelerator

The Health Innovation Accelerator encompasses two projects, the Advanced Diagnostics Accelerator and the DEVOTE programme, delivered through a partnership between Health Innovation Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), The University of Manchester, and industry partners.

This project is part-funded by the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator programme. Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerators programme is investing £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. Supporting the Government’s levelling-up agenda, this is a new model of R&D decision making that empowers local leaders to harness innovation in support of regional economic growth and help attract private R&D investment and develop future technologies.