KGH gets £2.3m upgrades for life-saving heart treatments

Doctors will have access to the latest treatments
KGH staff in the new upgraded Cardiac Catheter Laboratories. From left to right, consultant cardiologist Dr Prashanth Raju, staff nurse Jubin Jose, ward sister Rachael Holloway, radiographer Sue Reed and healthcare assistant Natasha ChikoreKGH staff in the new upgraded Cardiac Catheter Laboratories. From left to right, consultant cardiologist Dr Prashanth Raju, staff nurse Jubin Jose, ward sister Rachael Holloway, radiographer Sue Reed and healthcare assistant Natasha Chikore
KGH staff in the new upgraded Cardiac Catheter Laboratories. From left to right, consultant cardiologist Dr Prashanth Raju, staff nurse Jubin Jose, ward sister Rachael Holloway, radiographer Sue Reed and healthcare assistant Natasha Chikore

Doctors at KGH will have access to the latest cardiac equipment thanks to £2.3m upgrades.

The hospital's two cardiac catheter laboratory rooms have been upgraded to feature the latest cardiac intervention, x-ray and ultrasound equipment for potentially life-saving heart procedures.

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The work took seven months and was completed at the end of July.

The second upgraded laboratory. From left to right, deputy sister Charmaine Beirnes, deputy sister Nue Mpofu, registrar Dr Ugu Ihekwaba, lead radiographer Yasmin Hassim, radiographer Gayan Gamage, and consultant cardiologist Dr Kai Hogrefe.The second upgraded laboratory. From left to right, deputy sister Charmaine Beirnes, deputy sister Nue Mpofu, registrar Dr Ugu Ihekwaba, lead radiographer Yasmin Hassim, radiographer Gayan Gamage, and consultant cardiologist Dr Kai Hogrefe.
The second upgraded laboratory. From left to right, deputy sister Charmaine Beirnes, deputy sister Nue Mpofu, registrar Dr Ugu Ihekwaba, lead radiographer Yasmin Hassim, radiographer Gayan Gamage, and consultant cardiologist Dr Kai Hogrefe.

Consultant cardiologist and clinical lead for cardiology, Dr Simon Hetherington, said: "When we first launched the hospital's cardiac centre in 2007 it was at the cutting edge of cardiac care but of course technology moves on.

"The work we have just completed was needed to replace the equipment in two of our three cardiac catheter laboratories in order to make the best use of that new technology and to stay up to date."

The new equipment gives higher definition images and means less radiation is used when x-rays are used for procedures like fitting stents in blocked up arteries. It should make procedures quicker and safer.

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KGH's upgrades are part of the trust's overall improvement plans and will help improve cardiac care for the region.

Dr Hetherington said: "KGH is currently the 24/7 centre for primary percutaneous coronary intervention - the emergency procedure used to save lives when people are having a heart attack."

The service supports more than 500 people a year and is the closest heart attack centre for part of surrounding counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.

Dr Hetherington said: "We are playing an increasingly important regional role.

"Working together with NGH we already have facilities which are equal to large cardiac surgical centres."