Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

and the ‘ABC’ protocol for managing AF

Why focus on Atrial Fibrillation? 

AF commonly causes the formation of blood clots, which increases the risk of stroke by 5 times. There are, on average, 40 AF-related strokes every day in England.

Anticoagulation is an effective therapy for managing people with AF who are at risk of stroke, and can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 66%. However, many people with AF are not on anticoagulants, meaning they are getting no treatment at all or are on ineffective treatment, such as aspirin, for AF.

Improving detection and management of AF

Too many people are still living with undetected and poorly managed Atrial Fibrillation (AF) across Cheshire and Merseyside. C&M Health and Care Partnership has committed to achieving these ambitions through a whole-system approach.


By 2029 the AF ambitions are:85% of the expected number of people with AF are detected
90% of people with AF who are known to be at high risk of a stroke to be adequately anticoagulated