Latest news with #EssexCardiothoracicCentre
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
App on trial in Essex is first in UK for cardiac arrest witnesses
The first app of its kind in the UK has been launched to support people who have witnessed an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).The RescQ app is designed to help family, friends or bystanders cope with the emotional distress of seeing a medical is being piloted in Essex for one year before being rolled out across Norfolk and Hertfordshire. "There are currently limited resources in the UK to support those who witness an OHCA, a group we call 'forgotten patients'," said Dr Uzma Sajjad, cardiology research fellow at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, which is leading the trial. "This new app aims to bridge that gap by providing essential information and support by signposting to a dedicated website," she added. The website has videos featuring the real-life experiences of OHCA witnesses, as well as insights from psychologists and medical aims to tell people what to expect after seeing after such an event and give guidance on coping strategies. If more support is needed, an OHCA witness can ask to see a trained patient liaison Di Fede, sector clinical lead at EEAST, said: "Being able to offer this level of support to the people who are often forgotten about is so important."The app's partners include the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST), Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, East Anglian Air Ambulance and Sudden Cardiac Arrest land crews will use it to document incident details, including the number of witnesses present. In the first week of the trial in Essex, 18 OHCA's were reported and support was offered to 22 Mid and South Essex NHS Trust said each year in the county there are about 3,500 project cost £75,000 was funded by the NHS East of England Cardiac Network. It will run until early 2026. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Basildon Hospital team wins award for reducing stays with innovative virtual ward
Heart nurses are celebrating winning national recognition for a virtual ward at Basildon Hospital which helps reduce hospital stays. The innovative virtual ward, the first of its kind in the East of England, is managed by the cardiothoracic clinical nurse specialists at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital. The ward monitors patients' symptoms as they wait at home for their planned heart surgeries. Through a mobile app, patients receive specialist and general health advice and emotional support, preventing them from becoming severely unwell and occupying hospital beds. The virtual ward's success has been evident since July 2024, with the team having assisted more than 400 patients and 180 currently awaiting their procedure. This has saved more than £560,000 in bed days and allowed patients to stay at home longer, avoiding possible infection risks. Jade Theisinger, Cardiothoracic nurse specialist, with the award (Image: Mid and South Essex NHS Trust) The Cardiothoracic Clinical Nurse Specialists at the CTC, who run the ward, have won the Excellence for Innovation in Practice 2025 award at the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland conference. Anthony Johnson, cardiothoracic nurse specialist at the CTC, who also leads this service, said: "We are really proud to have won this award, it is a reflection of the effort our team has put into making the virtual ward work. "It is not just about easing the pressure on hospital beds; it is about making sure patients feel supported while they wait for their surgery. "And this recognition shows that it is making a real difference for patients and the hospital." The virtual service also supports patients after surgery, particularly those at risk of infections or with limited social support at home. One patient, Janet Sutherland, 78, from Hockley, said: "I was struggling with my heart condition and an irregular heartbeat for a long time. "The team monitored my condition through the app and brought my surgery forward as I wasn't feeling well. "Everyone in the team was lovely and the care was excellent."
