Heart patients discharged quicker from Blackpool Vic thanks to groundbreaking digital care

Digital monitoring means people can continue their recovery at home following surgery at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Consultant cardiologist Dr Tawiq Choudhury has led the way in using a virtual platform to monitor patients and provide follow up care.

He has worked with the remote monitoring team to establish the treatment at Blackpool which has helped 25 patients so far.

It means patients are more engaged in their own care and hospital beds can be freed up more quickly.

Rachel Haworth, project lead at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, said: “Patients can have access to specialist support whilst continuing their recovery in their own homes, which we know has improved outcomes.

“Covid 19 has created enormous pressure on the healthcare system. As well as the obvious benefits for the patient, this service will also improve bed efficiency without compromising patient safety or quality of care.”

Once home, patients are given a virtual clinic follow-up phone call or video call at one week, four weeks and 12 weeks after their surgery.

Cardiac nurse Sarah Fishwick said: “The feedback we have received within the virtual clinic has been really positive from patients, who have embraced the collaborative care and involvement in their own recovery.”

Susan Ashmore, coronary Care Unit (CCU) ward manager added: “The early hospital discharge pathway has been well received by patients and coronary care unit staff.

“It has enabled those patients who meet the criteria to be discharged home sooner and freed CCU beds up earlier for other emergency admissions.”

The treatment pathway has been adopted in collaboration with Barts Health NHS Trust in London where this system is now routinely used.

Natalie Marsden from Fylde Coast Medical Services (FCMS) said: “The early discharge pathway means more patients can be cared for at home, where most prefer to be.

“Working with this excellent team is demonstrating great results. Patients can recover at home sooner and be more engaged in their own care, their feedback speaks for itself.

“This new way of working releases hospital bed capacity making it another example of real-world transformation.”