Information for patients

Links

Wellington Hospital
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Clementine Churchill BMI (Harrow)
Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital

Patient testimonials

First, I can’t thank you enough for all your time, interest and care on Thursday.

Secondly, the one stop ‘plumb and sparks’ shop is seriously impressive, staffed by great, caring and efficient people who are fun. In about an hour to do an echo, treadmill test and take 49 blood samples etc. must be close to a W.R....

Seriously, from the patients point of view you are offering full diagnostics almost in the ‘golden hour’ whereas with most other approaches it takes more like a month! The expeditious approach apart from removing patients uncertainty which often weighs heavily means if necessary you are in to treatment almost immediately....

Patients will definitely feel that they and their quality of lfe is being put first.

Mr Y. (2010) Suffolk.

Shortness of Breath on exertion

There are many causes of shortness of breath, ranging from physical deconditioning and the presence of obesity, to more significant causes such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, lung disease or anaemia. Any reason that can impair blood delivering oxygen to the bodies tissues can cause breathlessness. If the problem is in the heart-it can’t deliver enough blood- the condition is known as Heart Failure, Congestive Cardiac Failure (CCF) or Left Ventricular failure (LVF).

What types of left ventricular failure are there?

The two types of left ventricular failure, broadly speaking, are systolic (pumping) and diastolic (relaxation) failure. The majority of patients have a degree of both to a greater or lesser extent.