The team is dedicated to providing specialised care for patients suffering from or suspected of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and patients requiring Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

Consultants

• Dr Richard Bala – Consultant Cardiologist, Electrophysiologist and Clinical Lead for CRM
• Dr Mark Sopher – Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
• Dr Girish Babu – Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
• Dr Julian Boullin – Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist
• Dr Simon Claridge Visiting Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist (Salisbury District Hospital)
• Dr Charlie Butcher - Visiting Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist (Dorset County Hospital)

The Arrhythmia Nursing Team

The main aims of the nursing team are to develop and improve patient pathways and provide continuity and support for patients diagnosed with arrhythmias or undergoing implantation of cardiac electronic devices. The role involves the care of patients in the acute phase of their condition and those requiring elective procedures to manage their condition. It encompasses procedures such as:

• Electrophysiology Studies/Ablation
• DC Cardioversion
• Implantation of Cardiac Electronic Devices including Implantable loop Recorders, Pacemakers, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs), Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Pacemakers (CRT-P) and Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy Defibrillators (CRT-D).
• Drug provocation studies for suspected arrhythmia conditions such as Brugada Syndrome and Lonq QT Syndrome.

We review and care for patients in the outpatient and inpatient setting. We are present at most stages of the patient pathway from the initial outpatient appointment to their inpatient discharge, ensuring continuity of care and the delivery of a standardised service. Services include:

Outpatient clinics:

• Pre-admission clinics for DC Cardioversions, Electrophysiology Studies/Ablation and Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.
• A Rapid Access Atrial Fibrillation clinic to review patients with new onset Atrial Fibrillation.
• One month review clinic following an ICD or CRT-D.
• Adhoc review of patients' device sites or any issues following arrhythmia procedures.

Telephone Help Line

We provide ongoing support to all arrhythmia and device patients under our care Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00hrs.

Ongoing ICD Support

• We hold an ICD information session for patients following device implant.
• We provide a telephone help line
• We can review patients when attend for technical device checks.
• Access to ICD life which is an online private social community to connect, communicate and share information.
• Access to an ICD support group - the Bournemouth Area Defibrillator (BAD) group which is affiliated to the Heart Rhythm Charity, the Arrhythmia Alliance. We have two meetings annually, social events and a biannual newsletter. The support group is published in the Arrhythmia Alliance's patient resources about what makes a good support group.

For specific patient information about the procedures that we do please follow this link.

Cardiac Physiologists

Who are we?

Cardiac Physiologists are Healthcare Scientists who have specialised in Cardiology and in this context, specifically within cardiac rhythm management. We provide technical, specialised skills and interpretation of cardiac investigations. We tend to be an unrecognised specialised group, who perform and assist with a wide range of cardiology investigations, often holding professional body accreditation in our specialist fields.

What do we do?

Cardiac Physiologists specialising in cardiac rhythm management are heavily involved with several aspects of arrhythmia management.

Services include;

• Perform technical measurement and programming to advise in the implantation/removal of Cardiac Electronic Devices
• Technical follow up of all Cardiac Electronic Devices (both in house and remotely) including optimising device programming to patient requirements, identification of lead abnormalities, closely monitoring battery longevity, review of abnormal heart rhythms requiring treatment by the device and assessment of patient symptoms and referral to specialist services where appropriate such as Heart Failure service
• Operate recording and mapping systems and provide interpretation in Electrophysiology procedures
• Deactivation of Cardiac Electronic Devices (ICDs) at end of life or patient request
• Providing an out of hours emergency service for patients with Cardiac Electronic Devices
• We work closely and regularly interact with the wider cardiac rhythm management team including Consultants, Arrhythmia Nurses, Catheter Lab team as well as the admin support to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care.

We provide first class specialised adult cardiac services for a population of one million, including much of Dorset and parts of Wiltshire and Hampshire as well as general cardiology for the local population. The service is run on two sites, the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole General Hospital, with outreach specialist and non-specialist clinics located in Salisbury, Wareham, Swanage and Dorchester. The consultants and other staff are all part of the Dorset Heart Centre and work collaboratively across the catchment.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital is the centre for the Coronary Angioplasty and Electrophysiology Services including complex devices. Cardiac pacing is undertaken at both sites. All the specialist services provide on-site 24/7 cover, as part of the clinical service review the organisation plan to shift  all emergency cardiac admissions to the Bournemouth site where emergency cardiac intervention can be received 24/7.  In addition there is full provision of non-invasive and community services. There are close links with cardiac radiology (CT and MRI), interventional radiology and vascular surgery, all services with a major presence on site. The rehabilitation service is largely centre based

Poole Hospital provides a comprehensive non-invasive cardiology service with special interests in imaging (echo, CT and MRI), various forms of stress testing, and research. Permanent cardiac pacing is undertaken. Like Bournemouth, the department is largely equipped with state-of-the-art technology. There are specialist services for heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac rehabilitation working across the community. The rehabilitation service is largely community based

Poole Heart Support Group

Useful information

You may find the following links useful for information and support on a range of heart conditions:

Poole Heart Support Group

The Cardiomyopathy Association

British Heart Foundation 

Bournemouth Heart Club

· About coronary heart disease (NHS Choices)