If you’ve been referred to us by your GP, you’ll be invited to an appointment with us as an outpatient. You’ll meet one of our cardiologists or a member of the cardiology team for an assessment.

Depending on the reason for your referral, you may have an investigation such as an electrocardiogram (a recording of the electrical activity of your heart) or echocardiograph (a test that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart) prior to your appointment.

After we’ve assessed you, we might recommend a change to your medication. In this case, we’ll let your GP know about the change and depending on the circumstances, we may invite you back for a follow up appointment to see how you’re getting on.

Tests we might refer you for are:

• an coronary angiogram (a type of X-ray used to examine blood vessels within the heart)
• an echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart)
• an ambulatory monitor (an ECG recorder that you take home for a set period of time)
• a blood pressure monitor (a monitor that is attached to you for a day that you take home with you)

Following these investigations, you may have a further follow-up appointment, a procedure or we may write back to your GP.

We accept referrals of patients following a diagnosis of Type 1 myocardial infarction (heart attack), coronary artery bypass surgery and newly diagnosed angina. They are assessed by a cardiac nurse and an appropriate cardiac rehabilitation programme will be arranged. Our cardiac physio will also assess the patient following a heart attack, bypass surgery, valve surgery and other heart surgery for an exercise programme.

We aim to improve physical health and quality of life and also support people to develop the necessary skills to successfully self-manage by:

• Health behaviour change and education/ information sessions.
• Lifestyle risk factor management
  • physical activity advice and assessment for the Cardiac Rehab exercise programme
  • diet
  • smoking cessation assessment
• Psychosocial health assessments for anxiety and depression and quality of life.
• Medical risk factor management.
• Assessment of cardio-protective medication ensuring adherence and evidence based doses are achieved.
• Referral to primary health care provider for long term management.

If you would like further information or to discuss your condition, please contact the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team in the Cardiac Liaison Office.

Our Coronary Care unit provides excellent standards of care for all cardiac patients. We are a ten bedded monitored unit and frequently take direct admissions from A&E and the Medical Admission Wards.

Our team are incredibly experienced and dedicated to their patients, and aim to provide an excellent teaching environment for students.

We perform cardiac and respiratory diagnostic tests to aid with diagnosis.

Heart failure means your heart is not pumping blood around your body as well as it should. It does not mean your heart has stopped working, however you may need treatment and support to help it work better.

Our team of specialist nurses, cardiologists, cardiac physiotherapists and clinical psychologist offer comprehensive heart failure care if you have heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Our Integrated Heart Failure offer includes:

• assessment and review following diagnosis
• assessment for new therapies and/or devices
• evaluation and support for patients
  • with difficult to manage heart failure
  • in whom co-morbidity limits heart failure management

• psychological support
• access to our heart failure rehabilitation programme

If you have been in hospital, we may meet you during your hospital stay. We also offer a range of follow up options and aim to deliver care closer to home. Our clinics are currently within the hospital and the community and this includes the option of home visits for you if you are housebound.

We also offer a telephone consultation as an alternative to a face to face review.

Our multidisciplinary team of specialists provides holistic, individualised care, supporting you through tests, diagnosis, management and helping with relief of your symptoms. Our team also offers:

• key lifestyle advice
• education
• counselling
• psychological support
• links with palliative services when needed
• heart failure rehabilitation programme

tailored titration of heart failure medications and consideration/referral for complex devices