One in 10 patients having an MI head straight to their local GP, while just one in five call triple zero when experiencing early symptoms, a survey shows.

The most common initial reaction for those experiencing heart attack symptoms was to tell a friend or family member (28% of respondents), according to a survey of 400 patients by the Heart Foundation of Australia. 

Around one in five called triple zero for an ambulance as their first response, 16% travelled to the nearest hospital and 12% got themselves to a doctor’s surgery. 

And, overall, only one-third called triple zero for an ambulance and about half (49%) took themselves to a hospital or GP clinic.