Cardiac Rehabilitation Service

Your cardiology consultant may refer you to WHSCT’s Cardiac Rehabilitation service following a heart attack, heart surgery or a diagnosis such as angina. You may then be offered a place on a comprehensive Cardiac Rehabilitation programme to support your recovery.

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a structured programme which combines lifestyle/risk factor management, exercise, education and support to enable you to get back to as full a life as possible after a cardiac event or diagnosis.

This nurse-led service supports patients following:

• A heart attack
• Percutaneous coronary intervention (coronary artery stenting)
• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
• Valve surgery

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday – 9.00am-5.00pm
(excluding bank holidays)

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• How we can support you

  Whilst in hospital your cardiology team will give you some information about the service.

  Upon receipt of referral all patients deemed eligible will:

  • Be contacted by a Cardiac Rehabilitation nurse specialist to review your progress and discuss enrolment in the programme.
  • Be offered an appointment for an initial nurse assessment and review of symptoms. We will then agree on an individualised care plan which may include starting or adjusting cardiac medications in order to reduce the risk of further cardiovascular disease.
  • Be offered regular reviews to monitor your medication compliance, potential side effects and how well your treatment is working for you.
  • Be offered an assessment of exercise capacity with our physiotherapy team
  • Be offered a place on a 6week Cardiac Rehabilitation exercise and education programme
  • If deemed eligible, we offer a 6 week group-based or independent, home-based exercise/education programme where you will be supported in your recovery.
  • At the end of our programme, we may also refer you to a local exercise group to help maintain long-term heart health.
• Benefits of Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Evidence has shown that Cardiac Rehabilitation results in improved outcomes for patients with heart disease.
  • It supports both your physical and mental wellbeing
  • It keeps you Informed and empowered to look after your heart health for now and the future.
  • Improves confidence and quality of life after a cardiac diagnosis or procedure
• How to access our services

  You can be referred to Cardiac Rehabilitation via:

  • Inpatient cardiology wards in Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospital
  • Your GP
  • Other cardiac rehabilitation teams
• Useful Resources

  Minding Your Head

  Lifeline: 0808 808 8000

  Samaritans: 116 123

  Exercise advice Patient Leaflets (ACPICR)

  Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS)

  Make a Referral (NICHS)

  British Heart Foundation (BHF)

  Medicines for your Heart (BHF)

  Dietary Advice |Healthy Eating (BHF)

  Smoking Cessation (Stop Smoking NI): 08009179388

  Drugs and Alcohol Guidelines (PHA)

  Care Opinion
  You can share your experience of health or care services, and help make them better for everyone.

  Please note: We ask all patients to engage/commit fully to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program in order to achieve best possible outcomes. For further information on this please read our Staff/Patient Charter below:

  Cardiac Rehabilitation Patient Charter

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Contacts