Cardiology (heart)

The rapid access chest pain clinic is a nurse led clinic for the diagnosis of new onset angina. Patients are usually referred by their GP; however referrals are also accepted from A&E. The aim is to facilitate expert opinion, early investigation and the risk stratification of chest pain.

The service operates a two week rule: we aim to see 100 per cent of patients are seen within 14 days of referral where the referral fulfils the criteria. Your GP should book or provide you with the facility to book an appointment.

We run four clinics a week at St Helier Hospital and three at Epsom Hospital. The St Helier clinics take place in the Springall unit on Monday, Tuesday (alt weeks) Wednesday and Thursday. We have clinics in the Woodcote Wing at Epsom on Tuesday (all day) and Friday morning. 

Key staff

Rosalind Paine

Clinical nurse specialist

Souyma John 

Clinical nurse specialist

Bernice Bradford

Clinical nurse specialist

Location

Admin - Cardiology POD, 1st Floor Ferguson House, St Helier

Contact details

Tel: 020 8296 3295 or 020 8296 2653

Cardiac rehabilitation is designed to help cardiac patients manage their condition, improve their health and recover their quality of life after a recent cardiac event, for example, after a heart attack, angioplasty and heart surgery or following the diagnosis of heart failure or angina.

We offer cardiac rehabilitation programmes at both Epsom and St Helier hospitals.

Epsom         

A hospital-based, structured and supervised exercise and education programme for up to eight weeks. Suitable for people who have had a recent heart attack, angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft, heart valve surgery including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), those with a ventricular assist device (VAD), heart failure, or following a heart transplant. The programme includes:

• Initial assessment with individual education and advice around cardiac health, cardiac medications and risk factor management
• Weekly exercise classes
• Review and advice around medications, blood pressure, and cholesterol
• Multidisciplinary education sessions covering risk factors for heart disease
• Relaxation and emotional support
• A chance to meet others going through a similar experience.

Class times

You will be offered a class based on your fitness level.

• Group 1: Tuesday, 9am - 11.30am
• Group 2: Tuesday, 10.45am - 1pm
• Group 3: Thursday, 9.30am - 11am
• Group 4: Thursday, 11.15am - 12:45pm

The education session take place on Tuesdays at 10.45am and last approximately 45 minutes. We encourage partners to attend this part of the programme.

Key staff

• Mary Evans, Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Steve Pomroy, BACPR Exercise Instructor
• Amy Ashby, Cardiac Rehab Administrator

Opening hours

Monday – Friday, 8am - 4pm

Contact details

Tel:  01372 735 560

Mob: 07795826268

Email: est-tr.cardiacrehab@nhs.net

How to access this service

Your hospital team should refer you for cardiac rehabilitation following your treatment. If not, please contact your GP and request a referral or contact the cardiac team on the contact details above.

St Helier

Service provided will be in accordance to the service specification outlined by Sutton CCG and the DoH commissioning pack.

Our cardiac rehabilitation programme is a nurse led service that aims to compete at the highest level. We offer two gym based cardiac rehabilitation exercise classes at St Helier Hospital. It is an eight week comprehensive programme delivered by highly experienced cardiac nurse specialists with a cardiac fitness instructor and lead physiotherapist.

We also offer a home exercise programme for patients who would normally be unable to attend the gym. We have eight education talks consisting of risk factor modifications such as the diet, medications, heart failure, exercise, resuscitation, awareness and stress management. Once the programme is completed, we encourage further continued exercise with phase 4 instructors and take up for this service has increased significantly over the years.

During our secondary prevention phase 2 clinics we assess:

• BP and pulse
• Wound care
• Check medications
• Diabetic and cholesterol management
• Chase up outpatient appointments and angiograms
• Order and manage bloods, echo, ambulatory tape and ECG, if required
• Have a close relationship with our Cardiology team and liaise frequently especially if the person is unwell or requires admission
• Facilitate return to work and offer advice on DVLA
• Offer a direct contact number for advice.

Scope of service

To offer a comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation service for diagnostic groups listed below:

1. ACS including STEMI and NSTEMI
2. All patients requiring reperfusion (CABG, PCI, PPCI)
3. Stable angina. (medical management only) on special request only.
4. Heart failure
5. Valve surgery
6. Cardiomyopathy
7. ICD implantation.

Key staff

• Jane Rogers, CNS, Cardiac Rehab
• Nikki Morris, CNS, Cardiac Rehab
• Peter Sage, Cardiac Fitness Instructor
• Hilary Caulwood, Cardiac Physio
• Joy Jolaoso, Cardiac Rehab Administrator

Operating hours

Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm

Contact details

Tel: 0208 2963577
Email: est-tr.CardiacRehabilitation@nhs.net

Cardiac Rehabilitation consists of 4 phases.

• Phase 1. Inpatient referred and followed up
• Phase 2. Pre assessment secondary prevention clinic.
• Phase 3. Cardiac rehabilitation programme gym and/or home based.
• Phase 4. Post discharge. Other organisations involved in long term / maintenance of fitness and life style change.

Department of Health aims

• Cardiac rehabilitation offered. To aim for 75% by year 3.
• Completion of cardiac rehabilitation. To aim for 85% by year 3.
• Reduction of re admission for another cardiac event within 12 months.
• Patient satisfaction rate to increase. 85% in 3 years.

• A detailed assessment of symptoms and devise a management plan in conjunction with their cardiologist.
• Onwards referral to relevant Multi Disciplinary Team members and community HF services.
• Monitoring of medication effects and adjustment of doses
• Education
• Support for the patient and family.

The team, based at Epsom & St Helier Hospitals, consists of a senior cardiac clinical nurse specialist and consultant cardiologists who has overall responsibility for the service, with support from pharmacists, dieticians, cardiac rehabilitation team, physiotherapist and occupational therapist as required. We offer full investigations including echocardiography, cardiac MRI and coronary angiogram if appropriate. Patients can also be referred for CRT & ICD, if indicated.

Key staff

​Dr Mumin Noor

Consultant Cardiologist, heart failure and devices​​

Sharon Smart

Heart Failure Specialist Nurse

Christian Costazza

Heart Failure Specialist Nurse

Opening hours

8am - 4pm, Monday; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday

Clinic:

RAHFC - Monday Morning - St Helier Hospital

Heart Failure clinics - Wednesday Afternoon at St Helier Hospital and Tuesday/Friday Mornings at Epsom Hospital.

Contact details

Tel: 020 8296 8418, bleep 844

The rapid access arrhythmia clinic is designed for those people who have atrial fibrillation which can lead to symptoms of palpitations.

Patients can be referred to the service by their GP or hospital consultants. If you need cardioversion, we offer a streamlined clinical care pathway to initiate warfarin / DOAC in conjunction with the anti-coagulation clinic and provide detailed monitoring.

At the clinic, we offer:

• A detailed assessment of symptoms and construction of a treatment plan
• Assessment of the need for anti-coagulant therapy (eg warfarin or DOAC)
• Monitoring of medication effects and adjustment of doses
• Preparation for electrical cardioversion
• Support for the patient and their family.

The team consists of two arrhythmia nurse specialists and a consultant cardiologist who has overall responsibility for the service.

Key staff

Ms Stephanie Cruickshank 

Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist

Opening hours

9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday
Clinic Wednesday and Thursday mornings

Contact details

Tel: 020 8296 2000
Bleep: 844