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East and North Hertfordshire
The cardiac rehabilitation programme in East and North Hertfordshire is run by a cardiac rehabilitation nurse specialist in the community. The exercise classes for patients are run by the Lister Hospital (East and North Herts Trust Cardiology). The cardiac specialist nurse can deliver a home programme and give you advice and practical support after coming out of hospital. You can make an appointment to be seen at home or in clinic.
The East and North programme is available from Lister Hospital for:
- Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (stents)
- Patients following coronary artery bypass surgery
(Please note heart valve replacement or repair does not always meet the criteria for East and North Hertfordshire exercise classes - home visits and the home exercise programme is the pathway in this area.)
West Hertfordshire
The service in west Hertfordshire is now provided by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
- Address: Robertson House Six Hills Way Stevenage Herts SG1 2FQ, Stevenage, SG1 2FQ
- Reception hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Reception phone number: 0300 123 7571
- How the service is provided
- Who is eligible for the service
- What will happen at your appointment
- Useful information
- Making a referral
- Patient experience
- Contact us
How the service is provided
The service is run across four sites in Hertfordshire and patients can attend whichever centre is closest to them. When the referral is received, depending on diagnosis, the patient will have a telephone support call or a letter with an appointment for an initial assessment.
Initial assessment
This is a one hour appointment to ensure that clinicians have all relevant information for the patient to progress safely through the programme. Observations such as blood pressure, height and weight will be taken and risk factors discussed.
Every week patients attend both an exercise session and an education session.
Exercise test
Before commencing the exercise sessions, and again at the end of the programme, patients will be asked to complete a short exercise walking test to ensure that they are exercising at the most appropriate level for their needs. The exercise sessions are aimed at providing cardiovascular exercise and are circuit based. There is always a warm up and cool down included with a short relaxation session at the end. Patients are monitored throughout.
Education session
There are health education sessions which include:
- how the heart works and cardiac procedures
- risk factors for heart disease
- making changes
- managing medication
- emotional and psychological aspects of heart disease
- healthy eating - for your heart
- benefits of exercise
Questions and discussion are encouraged at all sessions.
One to one support and workshops are available for diet and stress management information. Patients with a diagnosis of heart failure have an additional workshop with advice specific to their condition.
At discharge, patients will have a review meeting to discuss progress and plans for managing their heart condition for the future.
Phase four exercise classes
These follow on from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme and are organised by local heart support groups and leisure centres with appropriately trained instructors. Information is provided before discharge from the programme.
Who is eligible for the service
- Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (stents)
- Patients following coronary artery bypass surgery
- Patients following heart valve replacement or repair
Please note that heart valve replacement or repair does not always meet the criteria for the East and North Hertfordshire exercise classes. Home visits and the home exercise programme is the pathway in this area.
What will happen at your appointment
You are welcome to attend with a family member or carer and we will:
- ask about your current health and recovery since your hospital admission and other medical history which is relevant to your attendance at the programme discuss risk factors for heart disease and try to identify with you areas that may have contributed to your condition
- check your blood pressure and pulse
- measure your weight and height then calculate your body mass index (BMI)
- discuss any concerns regarding your emotions or mood
- jointly make a plan and identify goals to be achieved while on the course and for the future
- explain the programme and agree a start date for the programme - usually within a week of the assessment
Useful information
East and North Hertfordshire
The Stevenage & North Herts Community Cardiac Rehabilitation Service can be contacted Monday to Thursday 8am-6pm
via the:
Integrated Care Team HUB
Able Smith House
Gunnels Wood Road
Stevenage
Herts
SG1 2ST
Tel: 0300 123 7571
Websites
The British Heart Foundation
A registered charity which provides practical advice, booklets and resources for managing cardiac conditions.
www.bhf.org.uk
Cardiac Friends
An East & North Herts cardiac support group.
https://cardiacfriends.co.uk/
Pumping Marvellous
The Pumping Marvellous Foundation (PMF) is the UK’s patient-led Heart Failure charity.
https://pumpingmarvellous.org/
Cardiomyopathy UK
The specialist national charity for people affected by cardiomyopathy, a condition that affects the heart muscle.
https://www.cardiomyopathy.org/
Support groups
Hertbeats
A St Albans and District heart support group that provides exercise opportunities, practical advice, information and help to cardiac patients and their families.
https://www.hertbeats.org.uk/
Making a referral
East and North Hertfordshire
Patients are referred from Lister Hospital or tertiary hospitals following a cardiac event.
If a GP wishes to make a referral, contact the Heart Failure nurses team on:
- East and North NHS Trust: 01438 284574
The reason for referral is required and an updated summary of the patient’s condition and medical history. This would include their most recent hospital discharge summary and an echocardiogram report if available.
Referrals should go to:
- Email: cardiacrehabilition.enh-tr@nhs.net
- Cardiac Rehab Team Lister Hospital/QEII: 01438 284183
Patient experience
If you would like to share your story, please contact the Patient Experience team on 01707 388036 or email hct.patientexperienceteam@nhs.net
We would also love to hear about your experience on our service, please complete a survey by clicking here.
Contact us
Lister Hospital
Rehab Office: 01438 284183
