Specialist Cardiac Nurses from the James Paget have joined forces with healthcare partners and a national charity to deliver more than 500 free heart health screenings for local people.
The screenings were held over two days at venues in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, with the aim of identifying cases of heart failure, high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat).
And while the majority of attendees were given a reassuring clean bill of health, the comprehensive tests used by the team found that some had undiagnosed heart conditions, requiring further treatment.
James Paget Heart Failure Specialist Nurse Mickey Cox, who helped organise the workshops, said they were aimed at catching undiagnosed heart failure cases at an early stage.
“There are about 1 million people in the UK who are diagnosed with heart failure. It’s a very debilitating condition which can become expensive to manage, with the large majority of the cost coming from hospitalisations.
“Early diagnosis is crucial. It can prevent deterioration and reduce hospitalisation, as well as prevent irreversible damage that can occur when heart failure is left unmanaged.”
At the events, clinical staff offered visitors a range of diagnostic tests including:
- An electro-cardiogram (ECG) to monitor the heartbeat
- A portable echo-cardiogram machine to carry out ‘quick look’ ultrasound scan of the heart for more detailed images
- Point of care blood tests, with results in 15 minutes, for NTproBNP, a hormone which indicates possible heart failure.
“The events were very well received by all the people who attended and many were given reassurance that their heart health was good,” added Mickey.
“There were a few cases of hypertension that were picked up, along with new atrial fibrillation cases and potentially new heart failure too. Each person affected was offered on the spot clinical advice and referral into the hospital for further management.”
The events were held at the Water Lane Leisure Centre in Lowestoft on 8 October, and then at the Market Gates Shopping Centre in Great Yarmouth on the following day.
The team’s dedication to helping identify undiagnosed heart failure was recognised last week with a James Paget Staff Commendation, which was presented by members of the hospital’s Executive Team.
“The team thoroughly deserved their commendation for all the hard work put into these two events, which saw healthcare partners working together to bring a diagnostic service to people in the centre of their communities – a great example of local collaborative working,” said James Paget Acting Executive Managing Director Jon Barber.
James Paget staff were joined by the community team from East Coast Community Health Care (ECCH) and a team of student nurses from the UEA at the events, which were clinically supervised by James Paget Consultant Cardiologist Dr Sunil Nair.
“I was very pleased and proud of the commitment shown during the events to engage with the public and try in a small way to improve their health awareness, knowledge and understanding,” said Dr Nair.
In addition, the events were supported by local GP surgeries East Norfolk Medical Practice and Park Surgery, which sent out text messages to their patients to encourage them to attend for a free heart check.
Both events were organised by Pumping Marvellous, the UK’s patient-led heart failure charity.
Pumping Marvellous Operations and Development Manager Kate Hornby said: “The Pumping Marvellous Foundation’s BEAT Healthy Heart Events shine a vital light on the power of early diagnosis. By offering accessible heart checks to the public, they give people the chance to understand their heart health before problems arise, encouraging prevention over crisis. These events not only empower communities with a greater knowledge but also remind us that protecting our hearts starts with simple, proactive steps.
“Working alongside local NHS teams to deliver these events is both key to the detection and awareness of heart failure, which is a condition that isn't talked about enough. These events are at the core of our BEAT campaign: Breathless, Exhausted, Ankle Swelling - Time for a simple test. Together we can BEAT heart failure."
You can find out more about the charity here: https://pumpingmarvellous.org/
