The Lancashire Cardiac Centre provides a variety of cardiovascular treatment options for the people of Lancashire, Cumbria and surrounding counties. The centre comprises the latest facilities, including four state-of-the-art cardiac catheter labs, which perform a variety of investigations and treatments. These include angiograms, angioplasties (stents), internal cardioversions, pacemakers, biventricular pacemakers, ICD’s and electrophysiology studies.
Recently the centre opted to embrace McKesson’s fully integrated haemodynamic system, featuring built-in fractional flow reserve (FFR) software, to address the growing frequency of its use within the cath lab environment. The team have also commenced using the Volcano PrimeWire Prestige, which integrates seamlessly with the McKesson system. The PrimeWire Prestige was chosen due to specially designed features including a heavier core and improved tip, which aid the operator to cross challenging lesions.
What are the sizes of your Cardiology Department and Hospital?
The £52million Lancashire Cardiac Centre forms part of the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which comprises around 830 beds across several hospitals, the largest of which being Blackpool Victoria Hospital where the cardiac centre is located. The Trust serves a population of approximately 330,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre and the 12 million holidaymakers who visit the area every year. We are also one of four tertiary cardiac centres in the North West, providing specialist cardiac services to heart patients from Lancashire and South Cumbria. The centre was opened in 2006.
How many staff? Roles?
10 cardiology consultants.
14 Cardiac Physiologists
9 Radiographers
10 Nurses
Types of procedures?
Diagnostic and interventional (PCI’s) + regionwide PPCI service
Electrophysiology
Full range of cardiac physiology services including Echo
Internal Cardioversions
Pacemakers & ICD’s
TAVI
Types of equipment used?
IVUS Boston and Volcano
Integrated FFR Volcano
SJM FFR
St Jude’s LightLab OCT
Rotablation.
Philips and Siemens Cath Labs.
McKesson Cardiovascular Information solution
GE Vivid 7 Echo
How many procedures are performed per year?
PCI = 1600 (target of >2000 PCI’s for 2011-2012)
Diagnostic procedures = 2000
Tavi = 36
EP procedures = 240
What is the approximate percentage of cath lab cases performed radially compared with femorally?
65-70%
Does your department offer a Primary Angioplasty Service? If yes, what have been some of the challenges setting it up?
Yes, we started our PPCI service in 2007. 24/7 PPCI has been running for 2yrs. As with virtually all Trusts that implement this service there are several teething problems to overcome, primarily those related to staffing. Whilst this has not affected our ability to provide a complete service, difficulties occasionally arise when the on-call team are called in overnight and are required to have the following day off. It is a fine balance of not being over staffed during the day and being able to provide a complete PPCI service. This is an issue not just for the professionals who work in our department but also the cardiologists.
What are the benefits to patients attending your facility?
We offer a modern, brand new, comprehensive tertiary service within a dedicated facility, custom built to provide patients with the highest levels of care. To respect patient’s privacy, religious and personal beliefs, patients stay in same sex bays while on the ward and sometimes single rooms depending on circumstances.
From Management and Cardiologist point of view, what are your thoughts on FFR technology, and why did you choose a completely integrated solution?
FFR is a fantastic tool for the Cardiac Interventionalist and now we have integration to improve safety and efficiency in the lab. Only today we had an example of a possible surgical case being changed into a single stent procedure as a result of the
technology. (Dr Gavin Galasko, Consultant Cardiologist)
Cardiac Physiologists standpoint is that the new method is very quick and user friendly. The new method streamlines patient procedure and data collection, especially as in the near future Blackpool Victoria Hospital is moving towards electronic patient records. (Gill Burnett, Cardiac Physiologist Cath Lab Manager)
What new procedures / techniques have you implemented into the department recently?
Recent = OCT, EP expansion (more comprehensive).
Future = CT coronary angio, hybrid lab, radial lounge
How does the lab handle haemostasis?
Radial = TR and Helix.
Femoral = Angioseal, and Exoseal
What measures has the department implemented to cut costs?
One of the major ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency is to decrease the length of stay for patients. We are in the process of implementing a dedicated radial lounge where patients can relax in comfort whilst waiting for their procedure instead of taking up beds.
We are also working on ways to streamline product usage to reduce wastage.
How do you deal with late finishing of cases?
One lab late after 7pm everyday. Cases finish ACS treatment within 72 hours. 1 dedicated PPCI lab.
What is your policy for company reps within the labs? Are reps allowed to bring food for sharing amongst doctors and staff into the department when they visit?
Yes, company reps are welcome in our department for educational as well as for new product awareness and on-going support. They are allowed to bring food into the department, however they must make prior arrangements with the senior nurse on duty to ensure there is no overlap with other companies.
What is the best part of working at your facility?
It is a modern, well-equipped facility located in one of the UK’s favourite holiday regions. We have a wonderful team working on cutting edge procedures, which all combined produces a fresh environment, and great staff atmosphere.
