We remain open and functioning to support patients with heart problems, although necessary changes have been made to follow government guidance to keep people safe.
We continue to accept patient referrals for those with cardiac conditions or symptoms. This system will remain in place until 15th April 2020. At this time the situation with coroanrvirus will be re-assessed and changes will be made as needed.
When we receive a referral, for now, you will receive an initial appointment by telephone or video link. Following this we will be able to assess whether you are safe to wait for further investigation or whether your condition is urgent and needs investigation and treatment requiring a visit in person to Exeter Heart.
We will continue to provide services for urgent cases such as ECGs, echocardiograms, Holter monitors, exercise tests and cardiac MRIs up until the 15/4/2020. We will also continue to provide cardiac procedures in the cardiac catheter lab for urgent cases up to the same date of April 15th. We will continue to review the situation as government advice is released.
This approach to assess all patients but only investigate and treat urgent cases is recommend by the British Cardiac Society and in line with Public Health England recommendations.
To ensure the safety of all of our patients and staff all patients will be assessed for signs and symptoms of coronavirus over the phone and then again on the day they visit hospital. During hospital visits each patients symptoms and temperature will be assessed on arrival. For safety reasons any patients with a fever or persistent cough will be asked to return home.
To see a full size version of our current patient referral pathway during the coronavirus pandemic click here.