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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained atrial arrhythmia. AF significantly affects patients' quality of life and increase morbidity and mortality. Patients with AF need to be appropriately anticoagulated to reduce the risk of stroke. Approximately every fifth stroke is due to AF and average costs for both health and social care is £44,000 over the first five years. Recent updated guidelines on the management of AF have recommended that all patients over the age of 65 be offered screening in the community using either short term ECG or manual pulse palpation.

To determine the feasibility of an innovative community pharmacy led AF detection service incorporating referral for review and treatment to a specialist arrhythmia centre.

Community pharmacists received intensive training on AF, how to record an ECG using a …