New Development in Cardiac Care at West Suffolk Hospital

3^rd February 2003

A new nursing post at West Suffolk Hospital has been developed to help save the lives of people having heart attacks.

Hazel Tully has been appointed as Thrombolysis Project Nurse/Chest Pain Assessment Nurse. Hazel has been working to raise the profile of the Government’s National Service Framework in Coronary Heart Disease, focusing on achieving the target for patients admitted with heart attacks (myocardial infarction).

The target is for 75% of such patients to receive thrombolysis within 30 minutes of arrival in hospital. In April 2003, the aim will be for this to happen within 20 minutes of arrival.

Thrombolysis is a drug used to thin the patient’s blood. Extensive clinical trials have proven that prompt administration of thrombolysis reduces mortality rates and improves clinical outcomes.

Historically thrombolysis has been administered only in the Cardiac Care unit at the West Suffolk Hospital, but during her working hours Hazel can deliver the treatment in the A+E department, thus reducing any delays.

“I will also be concentrating on improving communications between departments and supporting clinicians with chest pain management,” said Hazel. “Also important to my role is teaching nursing and medical staff about the correct treatment for patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.”

Developing links with the Ambulance Service and the Primary Care Trust to improve the patient’s journey to treatment for suspected heart attack cases is another priority.