Tuesday 03 December 2024
About the Team
The multidisciplinary cardiology team works together to ensure a safe and swift journey through the cardiology department. We try to perform any preliminary tests and investigations you may need prior to your consultation, or on the same day as your clinic appointment, to reduce the number of hospital attendances.
This page introduces you to some of the team members you may meet along the way and their role in helping you through your cardiology journey.
Cardiology Consultants
The cardiology consultants who are responsible for the Combined Cardiology Clinics (CCC), care of ward patients and many of the cardiology investigations. You may not always see the consultant in the clinic for your initial assessment, but they will oversee the planned course of treatment for your care.
Cardiology Specialist Registrars
There are two cardiology specialist registrars who rotate on an annual basis through our department, they work closely with the consultants and other members of the inpatient and outpatient cardiology teams.
Specialist Cardiology Nurses
We have a team of highly trained and specialist nurses, with varying specialities that work in clinic, on the wards and coordinate a variety of outpatient cardiac tests and procedures, from Cardiac CT to DC Cardioversion.
Cardiology Administrators
We have a fantastic team of administrative staff who perform a number of functions. They ensure that appropriate appointments are made in an acceptable timescale, book procedures and investigations and provide a real time typing service for the outpatient clinics. This means that letters from the outpatient clinics are typed on the day you are seen and sent directly to your GP, minimising any delay in communication. They also take calls answering questions and concerns, enabling the smooth running of a complex department.
Cardiology Physiologists
A team of cardiac physiologists in the Cardiac Investigations Unit (CIU). In the CIU tests and investigations are undertaken (see "Tests and Investigations") to help diagnose your heart problem or condition. Cardiac physiologists use equipment to look at the functions and activities of your heart. They work as part of the multidisciplinary team that will care for you throughout your journey in the cardiology department. Staff from the CIU also work in the Cardiac Catheterisation lab and perform some tests on the wards where necessary.
Salisbury Cardiac Suite (Cardiac Catheter Lab)
The Cardiac Catheterisation suite opened in Salisbury in June 2010. It consists of two laboratories with diagnostic imaging equipment used to undertake procedures such as Coronary Angiograms, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Pacemaker insertion, Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy and Transoesophageal Echocardiograms (TOE's). There are a team of specialist Nurses, Radiographers and Healthcare support workers who are responsible for looking after patients undergoing procedures in the department. They will meet and greet patients on the day of procedure, talk about what to expect, ensure everything is prepared for the procedure, perform their specialist roles during the procedure and monitor the patient's recovery after the procedure. They will also ensure that any discharge information or advice has been understood before patients leave the department. The nurses are also responsible for undertaking a pre-assessment clinic prior to patients attending their appointments.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
There is a team of cardiac rehabilitation nurses who work with patients who have had heart attacks, heart surgery, or other heart interventions, such as angioplasty. The nurses are there to give help and advice. They will answer questions and concerns and provide a structured exercise and education programme to nurse your heart back to health.
Tisbury Ward
Tisbury ward is a 22 bedded cardiology ward that contains a five- bedded Coronary Care Unit, but has a total of nine monitored beds for patients requiring high care. The unit also has eight ambulatory monitoring facilities. Whenever possible, patients will be placed on this ward if they are suffering from conditions that affect the heart, and need care provided by cardiology doctors
Our staff at Salisbury District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
