A blood test, costing as little as £15, is being adopted by hospital emergency departments to help diagnose heart failure patients more quickly.

Used appropriately, the simple procedure can reduce the need for ultrasound examinations by around 75% and means those being sent to see specialists are more likely to be in need of treatment for heart failure.

The test is already used by Betsi Cadwaladr UHB’s Community Cardiology Service and clinical lead, GP Graham Thomas, said the procedure brings better outcomes for everyone.

He explained: “We know earlier treatment for heart failure saves lives and it halves hospital admissions. It saves a lot of money and is better for the health service and the patients.

“The benefit of the test is it’s simple from the patient and the GP’s point of view. It costs about £15-20 per test, expensive for a blood test.

“However, it gives an answer which can exclude a serious cardiac case within a week.

“It provides a quick and strong reassurance without the need to travel or undergo an ultrasound examination and specialist assessment, which probably costs at least £300.

“It’s easier to do a blood test than set up a hospital appointment. People are tested and screened and it means, when a clinic appointment is required, we have the right people being seen by specialists.”

The hope is, by adopting the test in acute hospitals, it will speed up diagnoses for patients arriving at emergency departments and acute medical admissions units.

Hospital admissions should reduce as patients can be started on appropriate treatment and followed up in community clinics.

A hormone is released by cardiac cells when they are under strain and triggers the heart to emit a hormone, which is what the test looks for.

Called the NT Pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) test, the health board has led the way in its use over recent years.

“People often go to GPs complaining of fatigue or getting out of breath,” explained Graham. “Legs swelling is also a common complaint in primary care.

“There are so many different cases of all of these symptoms and it’s the job of the GP to try and decide what might be the best approach to investigate.

“A blood sample is usually taken by GPs in the surgery but district nurses would be able to take them in the home as well.

“It mainly rules out heart failure. That would be the most important cardiac cause of those symptoms.”

If the test is normal, significant heart failure can be excluded and other treatments explored, without the need for ultrasound scanning.

If hormone levels are raised patients will be referred to one of 12 one stop-community diagnostic clinics across the region. This happens in around a quarter of cases.

Around 400 samples are taken each month, with approximately 700 people each year referred on to the clinics.

Graham, one of two GPs supporting them, said: “BCUHB has led the way in opening these community diagnostic clinics. It’s a small team of physiologists supported by two GPs.

“To date this test has only been available for primary care but from now onwards it will be available for hospital emergency departments and acute medical admissions units.”