Cardiology survival rates among the best in the country

The survival rate for patients who are brought into Derriford Hospital, for treatment with angioplasty and stent procedures after a heart attack, is among the best in the country, according to a well-respected national audit.

The audit, produced by the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcome Research (NICOR), shows that in 2016, our Cardiology Department achieved better survival rates and the major adverse cardiac events, such as heart attacks, angina, acute coronary syndrome or need for emergency coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery rates were well below the predicted national standards for complexity of the procedures.

These results put us alongside in the top quartile of hospitals in the country offering such procedures.

In addition, the time spent by patients waiting for an inpatient procedure after acute coronary syndrome (acute heart attack) averages around 25 hours, which is the best in the south west and one of the top results in the country.

Girish Viswanathan, Consultant Cardiologist at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are very proud of the care we give to our patients. Despite facing enormous operational pressures, our staff have continued to provide a high quality service and I am immensely proud that this dedication and commitment has been reflected in this achievement.”

Ann James, Chief Executive of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, added: “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly congratulate and thank our Cardiology Department for their hard work and dedication to patients.”

The Cardiology Department forms a key part of the Cardiothoracic service provision at Derriford Hospital and provides for the people of Plymouth and for the whole of the south west peninsula. Comprising of Cardiology Consultants (Cardiologists), doctors, nurses and technical specialists (Cardiac Physiologists), the team carried out more than 41,000 procedures and diagnostic tests last year.

Using some of the latest technology and advanced techniques, the Cardiology Department at Derriford is responsible for carrying out a wide range of diagnostic tests and complex treatments on people with cardiac disease and other heart problems.