PARAMEDICS celebrated today after giving an Ipswich man their 100th clot-busting treatment for people who have heart attacks.The 41-year-old brought up the century when he was successfully administered the thrombolysis drug just before the new year.

PARAMEDICS celebrated today after giving an Ipswich man their 100th clot-busting treatment for people who have heart attacks.

The 41-year-old brought up the century when he was successfully administered the thrombolysis drug just before the new year.

The new drug, which can be given on scene, has cut the average treatment time for people in rural areas and significantly increases chances of survival.

Archie Morson, head of clinical quality and development for the East Anglian Ambulance Service, said it was a significant landmark.

He said: "It means that patients have never had a better chance of making a full recovery from a heart attack.

"The numbers of patients receiving this crucial treatment is constantly rising as more and more paramedics receive the training."

To be most effective, the drug – which dissolves blood clots in the heart – should be given within one hour of the patient suffering the heart attack.

In the past, the treatment could only be given in hospital and, because much of East Anglia is rural, patients were often treated outside the hour.

Mr Morson said that 11 days of life are lost for every minute of delay in administering the drug.

He added: "Since we began giving the treatment, the average call to needle time for patients thrombolysed in hospital is one hour and 22 minutes.

"The call to needle time when administered pre-hospital is 52 minutes. I am especially pleased with the response from our operational staff, who have shown a willingness to embrace the additional training and knowledge and have used it to such good effect when treating our patients."

Have you been thrombolysed by paramedics? Do you owe your life to the new treatment? Call the Star news desk on 01473 324789 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk