First of its kind UK app to help ‘forgotten patients’ who see cardiac arrests
A new app has been launched that will support people across Essex, Norfolk and Hertfordshire after seeing someone suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).
In its first week since launch it has seen 18 OHCAs reported and already offered support to 22 bystanders, who have seen them happen.
There are 3,500 such cases across Essex every year, but it’s not clear how many people – often known as ‘forgotten patients’ – who may need help after seeing such an event.
Witnessing an OHCA can cause huge emotional distress and the RescQ app is designed to help family, friends, or even strangers who have had such an experience.
This one-year pilot is initially taking place in Essex, before being rolled out across the other areas. It started in April and is hoping to map the size of the problem, finding out the number people who need such support.
This UK-first is being led by the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at the Trust, with other partners including East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST), Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, East Anglian Air Ambulance and Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK.
The OHCA Research team at the CTC identified the unmet need and brought together key partners and academic experts to help design this project and make it a reality.
Dr Uzma Sajjad, Cardiology Research Fellow at the Essex CTC, who is also operational lead for the project, said: “There are currently limited resources in the UK to support who witness an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, a group we call ‘forgotten patients’.
“This new app aims to bridge that gap by providing essential information and support by signposting to a dedicated website, helping rescuers and those who see such cardiac arrests process their experience and find the reassurance and support they need.”
The app will be used by EEAST land crews to document incident details, including the number of OHCA witnesses present and their relationship to the patient—whether they were acquaintances, family members, or strangers.
People impacted by seeing an OHCA will be invited to visit a dedicated website featuring advice through videos that include real-life experiences from individuals who have witnessed a cardiac arrest, alongside insights from experts such as psychologists and medical professionals.
The website will help them understand what to expect after such an event and provide guidance on coping strategies. If needed, they can request contact with a trained patient liaison officer, who will be able to offer them further support.
Dr Sajjad said: 'We will assess the app’s impact by analysing the data collected, using these insights to continually refine and enhance the support available for those who witness such challenging events.”
Justine Di Fede, Sector Clinical Lead at EEAST, said: “We are proud to be hosting this app for the families and strangers who witness an OHCA. I have received wonderful feedback from the staff and management within Essex who are keen to give out the support that our colleagues in the CTC are offering.
“Being able to offer this level of support to the people who are often forgotten about, yet can play a huge part in the patient’s chain of survival, is so important and we urge everyone approached to take advantage of this fantastic resource.”
The project, which cost £75,000, is funded by a grant that CTC won from the NHS East of England Cardiac Network and will run until early 2026, with potential for extension.