PATIENTS in Worcestershire suffering from heart rhythm problems will no longer have to travel out of the county for life-changing surgery as the procedure is now available at Worcestershire Royal.
The procedure, called cardiac electrophysiology and ablation, was introduced at the Royal last week for the first time and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust joins just a small number of trusts across the country which can carry out the procedure.
During the surgery, small wires called catheters are placed inside the heart to measure the heart’s electrical activity, all via tiny holes at the top of the leg.
When the source of the problem is found, the tissue causing the problem is destroyed to prevent abnormal rhythms from moving through the heart.
Previously, patients in the county suffering from arrhythmia underwent the procedure at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
Dr Will Foster, consultant cardiologist at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT), said: “This is a real triumph, both for patients – who will benefit from a service closer to home and shorter waiting times – and the Trust.
“We have been working in partnership with UHCW for the last five years and it is through this strong partnership working that we have been able to develop the service locally.
“The results of this procedure are fantastic – there is a very high chance that rhythm problems will be cured and patients should be home within just a few hours.”
Dr Faizel Osman, Consultant Cardiologist at UHCW, said: “Heart rhythm problems are very common and the majority are curable with this procedure so it’s great that local people have now got a service nearer to them. We are very proud of the relationship we have with WAHT and look forward to continued collaboration with them.”
