Cardiac Service
The cardiology service in Noble's hospital is led by consultant cardiologist Mark Hall and his team comprising associate specialist Vasileios (Bill) Boukovalas and locum consultant Ioannis Stathopoulos. Dr Hall has a joint appointment with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, where he worked as a heart rhythm specialist for 15 years before joining the Cardiology Service at Nobles Hospital. The medical team are fortunate to be supported by a team of cardiac physiologists headed by Su Baxter and a team of specialist cardiac nurses. The cardiology service provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient general cardiology services and non-invasive investigation. Recently permanent pacemaker implantation, complex device follow up, specialist echo and cardiac CT services have been introduced. In partnership with Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital there is access to specialist cardiac procedures (coronary intervention, cardiac electrophysiology, complex device implantation, TAVI, ACHD), cardiac MRI and cardiac surgery.
Nobles Hospital has a 5 patient coronary care unit run by senior sister Claire Parsons alongside coronary care nurses with specialist training in acute cardiology presentations. Inpatients with cardiac conditions outside coronary care are managed with input from the cardiology clinical team.
Outpatient services include general cardiology, Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics and clinics for management of patients with heart failure or arrhythmias
The clinics are led by the Consultant and/or Staff Grade with input from supervised Specialist Cardiac Nurses (Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinics, Heart Failure Clinics). There is a regular Pacemaker, ICD and CRT follow up clinic run by physiologists and supervised by a consultant cardiologist.
Cardiac tests and procedures in Nobles hospital are predominantly focused on non-invasive cardiology with a wide range of tests:
- (ECG) and BP Holter monitoring,
- Treadmill test,
- Tilt test,
- Transthoracic and Transoesophageal echocardiography (visual example),
- Stress echocardiography (visual example), and
- Myocardial Perfusion Scan
The majority of tests are done within Cardiorespiratory Unit (CRU) that is strategically located close to Medical Outpatients hence this allows an easy access to all tests. Certain procedures (Transoesophageal echocardiography, DC cardioversions visual example) are realised in Coronary Care Unit as day cases.
Cardiac Rehabilitation is provided on behalf of the Consultant cardiologist by a team headed by a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cardiology & Cardiovascular Rehabilitation. The team is multidisciplinary and also includes a nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietician and pharmacist. They provide exercise, education and psychological support/stress management for people who have had a variety of cardiac events. They have close links with Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital in order to provide rehabilitation to patients who have had treatment in Liverpool in a timely manner. The aim of the programme is to reduce their risk of subsequent cardiac problems and to promote their return to a full and normal life.
The main tertiary centre in terms of cardiac care is Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital (LHCH). The patients are referred either as outpatients or inpatients. Inpatients transfers are provided with well organised Air Ambulance Service from Ronaldsway airport.
Inpatients are managed on a 5 bed coronary care unit.
COVID 19 and your heart
The impact of COVID-19 is known to be worse in patients with certain co-morbidities including smokers, those with diabetes, chronic lung diseases, heart failure and high blood pressure. As a consequence, it is essential that you follow the Government’s advice regarding self-isolation where advised, vaccination and practicing social distancing.
