AT LEAST one heart attack victim a week is having their life saved by a new drug being used by East Lancashire paramedics.

Crews dispatched to cardiac cases are using Thrombolysis to help treat patients on the way to hospital, saving valuable time.

The drug effectively dissolves the blood clot which has caused a heart attack and therefore greatly increases a victim's chance of surviving.

In 2002, East Lancashire was at the forefront of a nationwide drive to reduce the time it takes heart attack victims to be given Thrombolysis when they arrived at hospital.

But earlier this year, paramedics began to receive training so they could administer the drug as soon as they reach a patient in cases where they can't get a patient to hospital within 30 minutes.

Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust was one of 17 out of the UK's 32 to agree to carry the drug, which has meant extra funding for their rapid response vehicles.

They can get to emergencies faster than paramedics in traditional ambulances.

Rob Bellingham, director of modernisation and service development at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are replenishing supplies about five times a month across our area, so they are being used.

"It helps us to meet the targets set by Government for giving Thrombolysis."

The hospital's target for this year is to ensure that 58per cent of patients eligible for the treatment receive it within 60 minutes of first calling for help.

In January 2003, this was happening in 36per cent of cases in Blackburn, but by April this year had risen to 40per cent. In Burnley, 25per cent of people were receiving it within an hour of calling for help in January 2003, compared to 75per cent by April this year.

If not administered by paramedics, the Government expects 75per cent of patients to be given the drug within 20 minutes of arrival at hospital.

By April this year, however, that figure had risen to 78per cent in Blackburn and 92per cent in Burnley.