Our Acute Coronary Syndrome team manage the elective cardioversion service, and this year have had some tremendous results.

They have reduced the average waiting time for the procedure from 83 days to 36 days despite an increase in referrals – so read on to find out more about the team from Cardiac Nurse, Alison Eales.

Elisabete Ribeiro joins the team as Clare Vickers has moved to become the complex cardiac device nurse.

Elisabete, originally from Portugal has worked on the cardiology ward and CCU for the last 3 years and started her new role last month. She joins Alison Eales and Sarah Bates who have been together as cardiac nurses for the last 7 years.

The team work cross-site with one nurse on each site being available to be contacted Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm. At HRI we are on a bleep 503 and at CRH Tel 4942.

The Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) team saw almost 1000 patients last year suffering a myocardial infarction (MI), and saw many more patients who presented with chest pain and cardiac arrhythmias.

The team will see any patient who presents with cardiac symptoms to offer advice and assist with decision making when referring on for acute intervention in a time critical situation.

They review and identify patients who have a more stable cardiac condition, liaising with the medical and bed management team to transfer to the most appropriate area/site referring directly or discussing with cardiologist to instigate an early treatment plan e.g. angio or ECHO.

Chest pain assessment is the main focus of the job but they also cover the five new onset angina clinics providing information to patients who have received the new diagnosis of angina.

Alison told CHFT Weekly “The job has changed over the years as developments in cardiology continue. It is unpredictable yet varied and interesting. We never know what a patient will present with and the fact we follow all our ACS patients through to discharge it is rewarding to see the positive outcomes”.