State of the art unit

A STATE-of-the-art unit at the Conquest has helped to dramatically reduce waiting times for heart patients, hospital bosses claim.

The Conquest Heart Centre, which opened almost a year ago and cost more than 2million saw its first patients last November.

Dr David Walker, lead clinician for coronary heart disease, said, "The centre has been tremendous for patients and we have already seen a big reduction in the times patients are waiting and we are also looking into providing some new services for patients."

Before the centre, the cardiology team performed around 600 angiograms per year but are looking to carry out 1,000 next year.

Dr Walker said: "Patients who would previously be waiting seven months for an angiogram are now waiting three months and patients waiting for pacemakers are now waiting for two weeks rather than three months which is an excellent improvement.

"We are also putting a business case together to start angioplasty procedures at the centre in order that we can see more patients, but it's early days yet."

Coronary angiography involves inserting a small tube into a patient's wrist or leg.