Waiting times reduced

AFTER only one year, the Conquest Heart Centre has dramatically reduced waiting times for patients, hospital bosses say.

The cardiac catheterisation suite, which cost more than 2million to build, saw its first patients in November 2005.

The catheter lab is used by doctors to carry out investigative procedures called angiograms which allow them to look the heart (coronary) arteries, and also for the insertion of permanent pacemakers.

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Dr David Walker, lead clinician for coronary heart disease, said: "The Centre has been tremendous for patients and we have already seen a big reduction in the times patients are waiting. We are also looking into providing some new services."

Before the centre was opened the cardiology team performed around 600 angiograms per year but doctors are now performing 800, and are looking to carry out 1,000 this year.

Dr Walker added: "Patients who would previously be waiting seven months for an angiogram are now waiting three.

"Those needing pacemakers are now waiting for two weeks rather than three months which is an excellent improvement.

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"We are also putting a business case together to start angioplasty procedures at the centre in order that we can see more patients but it's early days yet."

Coronary angiography involves inserting a small tube into a patient's wrist or leg.

Through this tube narrow catheters are passed to the heart so that any narrowing of the arteries can be visualised with specialised X-ray equipment and appropriate treatment then planned by the cardiologist.

The state-of-the art equipment, alone worth around 750,000, ensures patient comfort and the best tools for the job.

The National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund and the Department of Health funded the cost of the project.