Fear of Ambulance Costs Deter Heart Attack Victims

The Heart Foundation survey has found that one in 10 heart attack sufferer would delay calling for an ambulance because they worried about the costs.

This has prompted the Foundation to release a discussion paper calling for free universal ambulance cover to be introduced in all states and territories.

Heart Foundation chief executive Lyn Roberts says cost should not be a barrier to people seeking immediate help.

He said that about 50 percent of people who die of heart attack never make it to the hospital.

Further in his statement, he said that often people think ambulance as a transport, but in fact people suffer from cardiac arrest can get help they need in an ambulance rather than in someone else's car.

Dr Roberts says the state and territory governments need to adopt a consistent approach and remove obstacles that prevent people getting urgent medical help.

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