NHSE announcement on DOACs ‘encouraging’ for patients at risk of stroke, says RCGP

Responding to NHS England’s announcement on the expansion of availability of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the following.

“GPs are at the forefront of identifying, treating and monitoring patients who are at-risk of stroke. We understand how debilitating and life-changing having a stroke can be, so it’s always encouraging to see advances in the treatments available to manage atrial fibrillation and help prevent stroke. Greater availability of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) on the NHS will help to protect at-risk patients from having a stroke, and has the potential to save lives.

“It is also positive that patients receiving DOACs require less monitoring by GPs or other members of our teams in comparison with other anticoagulation treatments. This is both convenient for patients and should help to free up GP time to deliver care to other patients in need of our care. It is important that GPs have all of the necessary information to prescribe and monitor patients on DOAC treatment appropriately, to take account of these advancements.”

Further information

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RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7633/7574/7575
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Notes to editor

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.