KGH completes £1.2m cardiac department extension

Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist, Daniel Costa, Senior Cardiac Physiologist, Sara Gomes, and Chief Cardiac Physiologist, Sebastian Jones, in the new Procedures Room.

A £1.2m extension at KGH's cardiac investigations department has been completed, allowing it to provide quicker care with top equipment.

The department carries out 22,000 investigations a year but an increase in demand meant it needed extending and works began in November 2019.

KGH's principal cardiac physiologist, Sean Thuis, said: "KGH provides key cardiology services for Northamptonshire - including many emergency procedures for people with heart problems.

Members of the cardiac investigations team in the area about to be developed before the coronavirus emergency in November 2019 – hence before social distancing

"The cardiac investigations department supports this work by carrying out the tests which determine whether people have heart problems.

"Demand for our services has increased significantly over the last 10 years which had put a lot of pressure on our 15-year-old facilities."

The extension was built in an empty space next to the existing department and has added dedicated rooms for pacemaker and 'one stop' clinics, where patients will be able to see consultants and have their tests done on the same day.

There are also three scanning rooms which will increase cardiac ultrasound capacity by 50 per cent, a new procedure room, a larger exercise tolerance testing room, and three ECG cubicles.

The department also has a larger waiting area and reception desk and office, and a new rest area with more space because the department has gained 35 new staff over 10 years.

Dr Simon Hetherington, clinical director for cardiology, said: "This additional space in the department will allow us to increase cardiac ultrasound capacity during the working week – which will reduce the extra costs we had of weekend clinics."

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