Community Cardiology and Heart Failure Service

About Our Service

We provide diagnostic and management advice for patients presenting with suspected heart failure, high blood pressure, palpitations and high blood lipids (general term for fats and oils in the blood).

We have access to ambulatory blood pressure monitors (a device for measuring blood pressure over a 24hr period), ambulatory ECG (electrocardiography) monitors, cardiac event recorders (which can record up to 72 hours), resting ECG and echocardiography.

We also use in-house point of care, near-patient blood testing for heart failure (NT-proBNP) and when necessary tests to rule out deep vein thrombosis (D-dimer).

About Your Appointment

How to get the most from your visit?

You will receive confirmation on your appointment time and date and a map of our location as well as advice sheets regarding the tests that you may have during your appointment. Please bring a printed list of your current medications and information regarding your past medical history and allergies.

Please inform us if you have any special needs at the time you make the appointment and we will do our best to accommodate your personal requirements.

You may have a carer, relative or a friend with you for support during the visit if you wish to do so. Please arrive in good time before your appointment and allow up to one hour of attendance for various tests.

Please report to the Reception at the ground floor to check in for your appointment. Cardiology is on the first floor where there is a place for you to wait to be called. You may use our lift and wheelchair if required.

Who will I see?

You are quite likely to see a Health Care Assistant or a Nurse in the first instance for some basic tests that include taking your height and weight, having a blood pressure measurement and performing an ECG trace on your heart.

The healthcare professional may fit you with an appropriate monitor for blood pressure or heart rhythm study if this was planned. The Healthcare Assistant or Nurse might take a blood sample prior to you seeing the Doctor.

What happens during the consultation?

The Doctor will listen to your history and concerns. They may clarify any issues or queries, and then you will be examined.

If necessary, further tests may be carried out such as a heart ultrasound scan examination (echocardiogram).

The results of the examination and tests will be discussed once available.

Further analysis and a report will subsequently be complied and sent to your Healthcare Professional.

You will also receive a copy of this report yourself. We will always endeavour to write a summary in plain English with the findings and future plans.

Please do not be worried about technical aspects of the report. These can be discussed with your Doctor or with us if you wish to do so.

Follow Up

If you have been advised that you will have further tests or have a follow up appointment we will advise you on the likely waiting time or date for the tests.

Please contact us on the number provided if there is any change in your availability or any delays.

Our Cardiology Team

Vicky Kettle - Community Services Manager
Dr Naguib Hilmy – GP with special interest in Cardiology
Dr Cliona Kenny - Consultant
Dr Andy Potter - GP with special interest in Cardiology
Dr Asim Malik - GP with special interest in Cardiology
Dr Assad Hamid - GP with special interest in Cardiology
Emma Reid – Heart Failure Nurse
Sue Bryden – Heart Failure Nurse
Megan Watson – Heart Failure Nurse
Katye O’Farrell – Health Care Assistant
Sue O’Farrell – Health Care Assistant
Natalie Lee – Health Care Assistant
Gill Jones – Health Care Assistant
Charlotte Rust – Health Care Assistant
Sinead O’Brien – Cardiology Administrator
Farah Mujtaba – Cardiology Administrator
Kayley O’Sullivan - Community Care Co-ordinator

Conditions

We believe that it is important that patients get the best possible information about their condition. In the clinic setting it is often impossible to take the appropriate amount of time to explain a condition.

More information about the conditions we see:

Suspected Heart Failure

This Condition affects 1% of the population and is rising in prevalence in our aging community.

It results from impairment of the heart pumping function and/or stiffness in the heart muscle, heart valve problems and heart rhythm abnormalities.

This condition affects the quality of life causing amongst many other symptoms easy fatigability and breathing difficulty.

We can offer early diagnosis through clinical assessment; blood tests, ECG and a heart ultrasound scan study (echocardiogram). By offering appropriate evidence based treatments we can help to control the symptoms and prolong life.

Management of the condition includes lifestyle advice, supervised exercise and medications.

Palpitations

Palpitations are an awareness of abnormal heart pulse as a result of rapid, slow and/or irregular heart rhythm.

We assess palpitations by clinical evaluation and ECG (trace of the heart’s electrical activity) and ambulatory ECG monitors that can be worn for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours or longer as required.

Management of the condition includes lifestyle advice, modification of medications, occasionally using advanced therapies that may include pacemakers and other electrical therapies.

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension affects up to 50% of adults. Many people with high blood pressure may not be aware of it at all until they develop after effects. We aim at preventing high blood pressure, by early dection and treatment to prevent complications.

We assess high blood pressure clinically as well as with an ECG, ambulatory blood pressure monitors and echocardiogram if required. Other investigations may be indicated to rule out treatable causes of high blood pressure.

Management: The majority of people with high blood pressure benefit from lifestyle changes and medications.

High Cholesterol (Hyperlipdaemia)

High cholesterol and hyperlipidaemia mean abnormally high types of fat in the blood. This can be genetic or due to lifestyle. If abnormally high this increases the risk of affecting the heart and blood vessels that supply the heart as well as blood vessels and circulation to the brain and peripheries.

We aim at helping those who need support for the management of their abnormally high blood fat levels to prevent heart attacks, angina and strokes