Local Assembly Member Paul Davies met with healthcare professionals and AF patients at a recent event hosted by the Atrial Fibrillation Association at the Senedd.

The aim of the event was to raise awareness of Atrial Fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder in the UK at the launch of the 'Keeping our Finger on the Pulse' report. Patients with Atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to have a stroke than people without atrial fibrillation.

Paul Davies said, "I was delighted to take part in this event and help raise awareness of atrial fibrillation and its effects. It is astonishing to think that an estimated 846 people in Preseli Pembrokeshire have atrial fibrillation, and the possibility that many more have it but as yet have not been diagnosed. It is important that this condition is understood by medical professionals and patients so that they can be identified at an early stage and treated accordingly. Given the current economic climate, the realities of AF simply cannot be ignored.

"It is crucial that we improve public awareness and patient information on AF, and encourage research into its management. The Welsh Assembly Government must continue to work to raise awareness of this condition, plan better services for AF in Wales and promote healthy lifestyles. I believe that it is essential that we act now to help prevent these statistics rising over the next few years."