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Links Cardiology Intranet at Royal Surrey
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The tragedies of stroke and heart attack have some parallels with world disaster, since death and disability from these common conditions can also be reduced through education and investment. Public education is urgently needed so that more people respond to their ‘warning signs’ and the NHS must offer better ‘early warning systems’ to prevent or treat heart and brain attacks. Raised blood pressure or hypertension for example can lead to stroke, yet up to a third of people with hypertension do not know they have it and another third have inadequate treatment. In responding to a ‘tidal wave’ of cardiovascular disease, just like its natural counterpart, time is of the essence. Of those patients suffering a transient loss of speech, vision or function from transient ischaemic attack (TIA), most that go onto develop a ‘full-blown Stroke’, will do so within 48 hours. Currently referral and investigation of these conditions can take months and often comes too late. The Heart and Stroke Trust Endeavour (HASTE) is a Surrey-based Charity founded in 2003. Its acronym implies the need for speed and its first project – a cardiovascular wing attached to the Royal Surrey County Hospital will provide the ‘tools’ for its multidisciplinary teams to do just that. The wing was built by the Charity and handed over to the NHS in April 2005. It contains a state of the art MRI scanner for imaging the brain, heart and arteries. Much more importantly, the scheme brings together the teams and network required to combat heart disease and stroke by facilitating ‘one stop’ clinics for people experiencing warning symptoms such as transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or angina. High risk cases can be fast-tracked through the system and have corrective treatment in time. It is hoped that with early triage and assessment the team comprising GPs, hospital doctors, nurses, technicians, and radiographers backed up by efficient administration will prevent many heart attacks and stroke. As well as rapid access clinics, HASTE will focus on preventative strategies: it will offer expertise on diagnosis and treatment of high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and heart failure. There will be links to professional and patient groups and resources for educating the public and their physicians of the latest developments in cardiovascular disease. |
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