A MERSEYSIDE hospital has come second in the country for the speed they administer a life-saving drug.

Figures released by the Royal College of Physicians show that Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust has the second highest percentage of patients in the country who receive the anti blood clot drug – thrombolytic – within 30 minutes of arriving at hospital.

Of the 45 patients who needed the treatment in 2007-8, 44 received it within the 30 minutes.

The 98% result beats the national average of 85% and is an increase of 12% on last year's figures.

A spokesman said: “For someone suffering a heart attack the speed with which they can get access to this particular drug known as thrombolytic treatment can literally be a matter of life and death.

“A heart attack is caused by a blood clot blocking one of the coronary arteries or its branches and the clot busting drug dissolves the blockage, re-establishing the blood flow to the heart muscle.

“The sooner the clot is dissolved the less damage there is to the heart muscle.”

Sarah Groves, matron for critical care added: “It is extremely pleasing to have the second highest percentage, as this helps save lives and improves quality of life after a heart attack. As we are so close to the 100% it also gives us an incentive to do even better next year so that we can help even more patients.

“This result has been achieved by the hard work of all staff particularly those in Accident and Emergency & the Clinical Decision unit who have a consistently high level of training and support from our Cardiac Specialist Nurse”.