South London cardio unit gets its own system

From left are cardiac radiographer Ses Beharry, radiographer Rene Sasis, staff nurse Charmane Kay, Toshiba account executive Angela Nightingale, chief cardiac physiologists Bernadette Stouthamer and Marinus Butler, consultant cardiologist Dr Shoaib Hamid and technical manager Katrina Bush. Seated is cath lab manager George Chibagu.

A cardiac angioplasty service has been introduced at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, South London.

The hospital already had extensive facilities for cardiac patients with a dedicated cardiac care unit and rapid access clinics for patients with chest pain, suspected heart failure and palpitations.

There is also an established pacemaker and complex electrical device service and a full diagnostic service including transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography.

Diagnostic coronary angiography has been performed on-site for many years and it is now possible to perform PCIs (percutaneous coronary intervention, angioplasty and stenting) on site instead of having to refer patients elsewhere.

Previously, the cardiac unit shared a multi-purpose system with radiology and had access to the equipment for only four or five sessions a week. This dedicated new cath lab is now in continual use and performs both diagnostic and interventional cardiac work over nine to 10 sessions per week.

See the full report on page 16 of the October 2010 issue of RAD Magazine.