We thought it would be a good idea to post some general information about Heart Care to our website so that GPs could have a look at their leisure and also to remind everyone about the services we provide and what sort of referrals would be appropriate.

Key Notes

• Use the generic referral form
• Fax number 01922 6659157 Tel.No 01922 725050
• Address: 12 Portland Street, Walsall, WS2 8AB
• Now see COPD patients and Obesity patients (level 4) as well as CHD patients
• Patients can attend relevant education session only if not appropriate for exercise programme
• Patients should be motivated
• Attendance twice a week for exercise programme
• Home programme available
• A full clinical and exercise assessment is undertaken for all patients
• If patient not suitable GP will be informed
• Discharge letter following completion will be sent to GP including up-to-date goal setting
• Discharge letter will be sent to GPs if patient DNAs
• Carers/Friends/relatives encouraged to attend
• GPs are welcome to visit

 Staffing
 Clinical Staff – Doctor, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse Specialists, Exercise Physiologists, Health Care Assistants
 Administration, Fund raising and volunteers
 Programmes
 8-13 week rehabilitation course (home exercise course available)
 GP Referral course
 Weight management
 COPD
 After Care
 Educational programme covering risk factors, healthy eating, physical activity, medication
 Relaxation
 Angina talks

Types of patients seen:

 Myocardial Infarction
 By-pass surgery
 Surgical intervention
 Stable angina
 Heart failure
 Other coronary heart conditions eg AF, ICD, Pacemaker
 Awaiting surgery ‘fit for surgery’
 Friends and relatives
 COPD patients
 Obesity

Referral Process

 Heart & Lung Centre, New Cross and other Tertiary Centres
 GP Practices
 Walsall Manor and other DGH
 Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse
 Heart Failure Nurse Specialist
 Community Cardiac Nurses
 Consultant Cardiologists
 Private
 Self – patients will be referred back to their GP to ascertain if they were happy for them to participate
Around 800 referrals per annum

THE UNIT

Have you got a patient who fits ‘the bill’?

Patient 1
A ‘Round-about’ referral
52 year old insulin dependent diabetic with a past history of silent myocardial infarction in 2007 and heart failure
 Long Term disability due to severe arthritis and psychotic depression
 Lives alone but has a caring niece nearby
Patient 2
Mr N is a 63 year old gentleman with a diagnosis of stable angina for 13 years.
 He has developed arthritis which has impaired his mobility

Patient 3
Weight Management patient
 Mr J visited his GP with sleep apnoea and wanting to lose weight to help this

Patient 4
COPD Patient
 DOB: 02/03/1958
 Diagnosed with emphysema 23 years ago
 13 years ago diagnosed with Bronchiectasis