Boost for heart services at Addenbrooke's

Heart services at Addenbrooke's have been significantly improved thanks in part to a closer working relationship with Papworth Hospital. Following major investment, improved facilities, extra staff and a wider range of services are now all in place for patients. A new catheter lab has opened which carries out invasive cardiac tests and pacemaker implants - services previously unavailable at the hospital. The state-of-the-art unit, based on ward K2, includes a recovery area, five en-suite rooms and a main catheterisation lab.

New consultants, technicians, radiographers and nurses have been recruited for the unit. The service carries out coronary angiography - a procedure which shows up the structure of arteries in the heart and helps specialists pinpoint any narrowing of the blood vessels. Staff also implant permanent pacemakers.

Dr Michael O'Sullivan, consultant cardiologist and director of cardiology, said: "In the past, people had to go to other hospitals for these tests. We launched a service in a mobile facility in 2006, which proved very successful, so we've built on that by opening this new permanent service. "Having these tests available on site will make a real difference for patients - not just because they won't need to travel but also because we'll be able to offer short waiting times and better continuity of care. We've expanded the number of staff available at all levels with new consultants, nurses, physiologists and radiographers -and patients will undoubtedly benefit as a result."

The cardiac catheterisation lab is expected to carry out around 100 coronary angiograms a month and fit 150 pacemakers a year.

The good news for heart patients in the Cambridge area is that further improvements are to come. A closer working relationship is being forged with Papworth Hospital which is to re-locate to a purpose-built facility on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Plans are also in place for a new cardiothoracic research centre.