Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterisation
Website : www.thewellingtoncardiacservices.com
The Cardiology department comprises of 3 state of the art cardiac catheter laboratories and a fully equipped non invasive suite. The cath labs are equipped with Philips and Siemens Xray imaging units. The Philips equipment is the most up to date in the UK and has many features which enhance imaging including ‘stent boost' giving excellent visualisation of coronary stents during insertion. The labs are equipped to carry out fractional flow reserve studies in situations when radiographic assessment of a coronary stenosis is inconclusive.
All 3 labs have comprehensive ECG, blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitoring systems which are required for haemodynamic analysis. Two of the labs are wired for electrophysiological studies and are equipped with the two most up to date arrhythmia mapping systems available. They are also equipped to carry out either RF ablation (heating) or Cryoablation (freezing)
Some of London's top Cardiologists regularly investigate and treat their patients in our cath labs for a range of heart problems from balloon and stent procedures for coronary artery disease to the treatment of life threatening arrhythmias using ablation and implantation of defibrillation devices.
The department has a large non invasive suite comprising of 3 echo machines. There is a large dedicated echo room which is set up for Trans Oesophageal, Pharmacological stress and contrast studies. One of the machines is a very high spec portable machine which is used on the ITU and also intra operatively in the cath lab during PFO closures and ablations. The echo room is directly adjacent to the pacemaker analysis room where the equipment required for cardiac resynchronisation studies are kept.
The stress test room is large and airy and is equipped with a treadmill and ensuite shower facilities.
In the pacemaker/ICD analysis room we have more than 10 different pacemaker manufacturers' programmers allowing us to see a variety of patients with different types of pacemaker from all over the world.
We can offer various forms of ambulatory ECG monitoring. Continuous recordings from between 24 hours and 7 days or for periods of up to 4 weeks with a patient activated device. 24 hour blood pressure monitors are available for recording fluctuations in blood pressure which may occur during that time span.
Our department is closely linked with the Wellington Diagnostic & Outpatient Centre in Golders Green Road (www.wellingtondiagnosticscentre.com) and one of our highly specialised cardiac physiologists provides the following services at this site for your convenience; Resting ECGs, Ambulatory ECG and Blood pressure recording, Echocardiography, Stress echocardiography, stress testing on a treadmill.
Department information:
Patients undergoing invasive diagnostics and testing need to be under the care of an appropriate Cardiologist before any of these procedures can be carried out. Most, but not all, non invasive diagnostic testing, can be referred by other Consultants or GPs, but in all cases written referrals or requests are required before any procedures can be carried out.
You can get more information about our services and being referred to a Cardiologist by calling our information line or clicking onto the link on our website.
Consultants using The Wellington Hospital
All consultants working at the Wellington Hospital have to apply for Practicing Privileges. The consultants must meet the following criteria:
• GMC certificate
• GMC specialist registration
• Professional indemnity insurance
• CRB clearance
• Have an annual appraisal
• Interview with CEO
• Approval by Medical Advisory Committee of The Wellington Hospital
