Heart tests closer to home

Patients will be able to have heart tests closer to home thanks to a £150,000 investment to expand Cardiology services at Cannock Chase Hospital.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) has secured the funding from NHS England to expand the department, enhancing access to vital heart diagnostics.

The investment at the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) at the hospital will enable the conversion of existing underutilised space into two fully equipped clinical rooms.

The CDC is part of a national initiative to increase diagnostic capacity and improve patient experience, often reducing waiting times.

This expansion is set to significantly increase service capacity, supporting the delivery of an additional 36 echocardiograms per week, alongside 20 further Holter monitor investigations.

An echocardiogram is a non-invasive heart scan using ultrasound waves to create live images of the heart’s structure and function. A Holter monitor is a wearable, battery-powered device that continuously records the heart’s electrical activity (ECG) for 24 to 48 hours, or sometimes up to a week, while people go about their daily routine. It is used to detect arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), unexplained dizziness, or chest pain.

There are also plans to introduce additional diagnostic tests in the future.

These improvements aim to boost diagnostic capacity, enhance patient experience, and ensure more timely access to cardiology investigations closer to home.

By expanding services within the community, patients will benefit from reduced travel and fewer visits to acute hospital sites.

Chander Sharma, Group Manager – Cardiac Services at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “In line with the NHS 10-year plan to expedite timely access for diagnostics, and following new funding received from NHS England for this purpose, we have taken the first steps in repurposing capacity to Cannock Chase.

“This will not only help reduce waiting times, but also give patients greater control and accessibility for scans, saving unnecessary visits to an acute site.

“Our staff are excited to be part of this as we work towards a purpose-built CDC facility.”