Cardiology (heart)

The rapid access chest pain clinic is a nurse led clinic for the diagnosis of new onset stable 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 all patients within 14 days of referral receipt.

Clinics run from both the Epsom & St Helier Hospital sites.

Key staff

Bernice Bradford

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Jennie Morritt

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Stephanie Cruickshank

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Contact details: est-tr.chestpain-clinic@nhs.net

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 or heart surgery, or following the diagnosis of heart failure or angina.

We offer cardiac rehabilitation programmes at both the Epsom and St Helier Trust sites.

The Programme

A hospital-based, structured and supervised exercise and education programme 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.

Key staff

· Michelle Carville – Clinical Nurse Specialist

· Marta Casimiro – Clinical Nurse Specialist

· Malcolm Coombes – Exercise Instructor

· Lucy Piercey – Exercise Instructor

· Peter Sage - Exercise Instructor

· Hilary Coalwood - Physiotherapist

· Amy Ashby – Cardiac Rehabilitation Administrator

· Joy Jolaoso - Cardiac Rehabilitation Administrator

Contact details – Epsom:

Tel: 01372 735 560 Email: est-tr.cardiacrehab@nhs.net

Contact details – St Helier:

Tel: 0208 296 3577 Email: est-tr.CardiacRehabilitation@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.

The Specialist arrhythmia clinic is designed for those people who have symptoms or an existing diagnosis of Cardiac Arrhythmia

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.

The Arrhythmia Service provide:

· A detailed assessment of symptoms

· A comprehensive, patient centred management 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

· Preparation for Ablation &/or Device Therapy

· Consultant supported discussion of long term arrhythmia management.

· Support for the patient and family.

The team comprises arrhythmia nurse specialists and consultant cardiologists.

Key staff

Dr Abhay Bajpai

Consultant Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist & Arrhythmia & Devices Lead

Dr John Foran

Consultant Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist and Interventionist

Dr Lisa Leung

Locum Consultant Cardiologist with sub specialist interest in Electrophysiology & Devices

Rosalind Paine

Cardiology Nurse Lead with specialist interest in Arrhythmia

Ms Kirstie McQueen

Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist

Ms Clara Zheng

Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist

Contact details esth.arrhythmia@nhs.net

Our Cardiology Day Unit & Cath Lab service are designed to provide a dedicated environment for Cardiac interventions and procedures to support with diagnosis and treatment of common cardiac conditions.

The Cardiology Day Unit has 6 beds which are exclusively retained for the recovery of patients undergoing Cardiac procedures in the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory. The Cardiology Day Unit and Cath Lab are based at the Trust’s Epsom site, but serve patients being managed at both the Epsom & St Helier sites.

Procedures:

We perform the following procedures at our Epsom site:

· Diagnostic Coronary Angiography

· Non Complex Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty & Stenting

· Brady Pacing Procedures

· Complex Device Implantations, including Cardiac resynchronisation therapy and Cardiac Defibrillators

· Electrophysiology Studies

· Simple Ablation Procedures

Key staff

Dr Yousef Daryani

Clinical Lead for Cardiology Service, Cardiac Imaging Lead, and Consultant Cardiologist

Dr Abhay Bajpai

Consultant Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist & Arrhythmia & Devices Lead

Dr Nikesh Malik

Consultant Cardiologist & Interventional Lead

Rosalind Paine

Cardiology Nurse Lead

Virgiliza Custodio

Cardiac Nurse Practitioner

Jocelyn Alpas

Senior Staff Nurse

Maricel Hundit

Senior Staff Nurse

Karpagavalli Vadivel

Senior Staff Nurse

Anitha Zacheriah

Senior Staff Nurse

Contact details esth.cathlabcardio@nhs.net

The Cardiology service at Epsom & St Helier offers an educational group for patients and other interested parties. This group provides educational sessions throughout the year. Topics covered will include various Cardiac conditions, symptoms and treatments.

The group aims to provide 10 talks each year. Each session will be run by a different member of the Trust's clinical team (such as doctors and specialist nurses) and will cover a specific topic. These talks will include a short interactive question and answer section at the end of the session. Please note, these don't replace any Cardiology outpatient appointments you may have.  

To receive information about upcoming talks and to have the opportunity to attend, please complete the form below so that you can be added to the contact list for the educational group. All talks are provided free of charge but places are restricted and will be allocated based on a first come, first served basis. 

Please complete the form below: