The region’s heart patients are set to benefit from new procedures which will see them getting the medication they need much quicker, thanks to a new approach devised at Stepping Hill hospital where patients can have their medication reviewed and altered directly from the hospital on the same day they are assessed.
Nursing staff are now trained and authorised to make changes to a patient’s medication as soon as they are needed, rather than having to wait for a GP appointment, cutting down on time and costs for both the hospital and the GPs who together see around 650 heart attack patients each year.
Left-right: Cardiac nursing and physio team staff Hazel Mullin, Sue McLellan, Carolyn Whittaker, Sally Harwood, and Rachel McCormack with cardiac patient Dave Roberts
One patient who will benefit from the new changes is Dave Roberts from Heaton Moor, who has been a longstanding cardiac patient at Stepping Hill who said:
“I once had to reduce my dosage of medication as it was making me wheezy and breathless. The nurse cardiac team made the recommendation to change the dose, but it was two weeks before my GP could change it for me.
“With the new system they will be able to do it straight away, which would be much better for me and a real relief.”
Sue McLellan, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse Co-ordinator at Stepping Hill Hospital said,
“The quicker we can respond to these changes, the better for the patient and the smooth running of local health services.
“This new way of working makes us more responsive to patient needs, and will ensure they have the best possible quality of life.”