Cardiac

Our service covers two main areas of care: the management of heart failure and cardiac rehabilitation.

About the cardiac service

We provide specialist care, education and support for adult patients who are registered with a Leeds GP who have the following heart conditions:

Heart attack (Myocardial infarction)
Heart bypass surgery or valve replacement
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), sometimes known as an Angioplasty
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (sometimes known as left sided heart failure).

Our service covers two main areas of care: management of Heart Failure and supporting people after their cardiac event (heart attack or surgery), this is called cardiac rehabilitation.

Our team of cardiac nurse specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and healthcare support workers aim to provide an excellent cardiac service across Leeds. The team works in partnership with the primary care GP services, and the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.

The service is provided at home (if the patient is housebound) or in a clinic. The number of contacts offered is based on a patient’s individual needs.

How we help

We support patients with heart failure through:

clinics
home visits
telephone and video consultations
giving patients the option to contact our service for support (during our working hours)
Cardiac Activity Programme
access to 1 to 1 specialist physiotherapy
access to the occupational therapist
Intravenous diuretic service
organising onward referrals to other appropriate services.

We support patients requiring cardiac rehabilitation through:

clinics
home visits
telephone and video consultations
giving patients the option to contact our service for support (during our working hours)
supporting patients after discharge from hospital
Cardiac Activity Programme
access to 1 to 1 specialist physiotherapy
access to an occupational therapist
organising onward referral to other appropriate services.

Referrals

Most referrals are sent to us by your GP, cardiologist or directly from the hospital following an admission. Self referrals can be made if you are known to the service. Referrals can also be made via our Neighbourhood teams or community matrons. If you have any questions, please contact the community cardiac service on lchcardiac.service@nhs.net

Information about our service

Attending a community heart clinic

What is the aim of the clinic?

Explain your heart condition
Explain and review your heart medication
Review your health and symptoms related to your heart condition
Check your blood pressure, pulse and other readings
Give healthy living advice that could improve your heart condition
Review your medication regime and alter or introduce medication to improve your heart condition (this may take several appointments).

How many appointments will I need?

This will vary according to the type of heart condition you have
If you are seeing us because of a heart attack or heart surgery you will usually require one or two appointments
If you are seeing us after an angioplasty or stent and wish to join a cardiac rehabilitation class you will usually require one appointment
If you are seeing us because of a diagnosis of heart failure, we may need to alter your heart medication often. This might mean seeing us for a few weeks or months.

What if I am housebound?

We are able to visit people who are housebound but not everyone is eligible for this. The cardiac nurse can discuss this with you when they first contact you.

Cardiac rehabilitation nurse specialist service

Our aim

The cardiac service offers high quality patient care, respecting individual wishes, beliefs and needs. This involves working closely with your hospital, GP and other services, as well as your family or carers. We help you maintain and improve your quality of life.

How can we help?

We are here to help you with your recovery following your recent heart attack or cardiac surgery. We understand this may be an anxious time for you and we want to support you in the best possible way.

We can:

advise the safest way to resume physical activity
discuss medication
offer reassurance, advice and support to help you make positive lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking, changing your diet or becoming more active
provide expert individualised advice regarding modifying your risk factors for heart disease
refer you to the Cardiac Activity Programme where appropriate.

Where do we see patients?

We offer appointments via telephone, video or face to face. Face to face appointments are offered in local health centres. We are able to visit people who are housebound but not everyone is eligible for this. The cardiac nurse can discuss this with you when they first contact you.

Community heart failure nurse specialist service

Aim of the service

What is the heart failure nursing service?

We are a team of specialist nurses with broad nursing experience and specialised cardiac skills. We care for people who have already been diagnosed with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)

The team will:

work closely with you, your GP and your hospital consultant to try and improve your symptoms and quality of life
plan your care with you to meet your individual needs
offer support and individualised advice for you and your family
discuss and review your medication and adjust if necessary
monitor your condition and blood tests as needed
refer you to other services where appropriate
we will transfer your care back to your GP once your condition is stable
refer you to the Cardiac Activity Programme where appropriate.

What is heart failure?

Heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump strongly enough to meet the body’s demands for blood and
oxygen.

The main causes of heart failure are:

damage to the muscle caused by a heart attack
high blood pressure
heart valve disease.

The main symptoms of heart failure are:

shortness of breath
fluid retention, this could be swelling of the feet, ankles, legs and stomach
tiredness.

Where are patients seen?

The service runs from local health centres across Leeds. These are:

Armley Moor Health Centre
Bramley Clinic
Chapeltown Health Centre
East Leeds Health Centre
Halton Health Centre.
Holt Park Health Centre
Hunslet Health Centre
Kippax Health Centre
Kirkstall Health Centre
Meanwood Health Centre
Middleton Health Centre
Morley Health Centre
Park Side Health Centre
Pudsey Health Centre
Rothwell Health Centre
Seacroft Clinic
Wetherby Health Centre
Wharfedale General Hospital, Cardiac Clinic
Yeadon Health Centre

Please note, we are able to visit people who are housebound but not everyone is eligible for this. The cardiac nurse can discuss this with you when they first contact you.

Information for our patients

Your heart, your recovery

Your heart, your recovery is an information guide that helps you understand and manage your heart health. Inside, you can find information about:

coronary heart disease and heart attacks
your recovery journey
heart medications
physical activity and exercise
risk factors for heart disease and how to reduce them.

You can access the full information guide on your heart, your recovery care record.

Alongside personalised support from the cardiac team, this booklet provides you with knowledge to guide your health decisions and support your journey back to a full and active lifestyle.

Your journey through heart surgery

Your journey through heart surgery provides you with information that will guide you through heart surgery and help you with your recovery. You will also find information on:

heart and post operative medications
diet and weight
physical activity and exercise
returning to normal activities.

You can access the full information guide on your journey through heart surgery.

Alongside personalised support from the cardiac team, this booklet provides you with knowledge to guide your health decisions and support your journey back to a full and active lifestyle.

Local support and clubs

Otley and North Leeds Cardiac Support Group

For more information about this support group,

Wharfedale Cardiac Club website
Email: wghcardiacclub@gmail.com
Phone: 07818 024059 or 07487 565070
By post: Wharfedale Cardiac Club, 410 Otley Road, Leeds LS16 8AD (Please do not post items to us at the Wharfedale Hospital).

Pulsations

Pulsations supports cardiac patients and their relations through a phase 4 support group. They are a very friendly patient lead support group.

Address: Garden Village Welfare Hall, Pendas Way, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 8LE
Phone: 07791 909054

Leeds Directory

Leeds Directory is a website that helps you find services that can support you to live well in Leeds.

You can look up things like:

care and support services
activities and events near you

You can also find about:

equipment and gadgets to help with everyday jobs like cooking or getting dressed.
different places to live like supported housing and care homes.
staying healthy and active.

You can visit their website, Leeds Directory, to find out more information and search for support near you.

Leeds Neighbourhood Networks

Leeds Neighbourhood Networks are community based, locally led organisations that support older people to live independently and participate within their own communities.

There are 34 Neighbourhood Networks which together serve the whole Leeds City Council area. They aim to meet local needs and provide services, activities and opportunities that older people want, including: