Cardiology Services

The South Eastern Trust Cardiology services comprises of specialist teams that diagnose, assess and treat patients for the population of North Down, Lisburn, Down and Ards Council areas and to a wider catchment which takes in parts of East Belfast.

Cardiology is a medical specialty concerned with diseases and disorders of the heart. It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions as coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and heart rhythm disturbances. Subspecialties of the cardiology field include cardiac electrophysiology, echocardiography, interventional cardiology and cardiac imaging.

The service provides investigation and treatments for the following conditions:

• Arrhythmias and Palpitations
• Angina pain
• Ischaemic heart disease
• Pericardial disease
• Diseases of the thoracic aorta
• Syncope
• Heart failure
• Valvular heart disease
• Cardiomyopathy
• Breathlessness

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• What will happen at the first appointment?

  If this is your first appointment then you may be seen by the Consultant Cardiologist or the Cardiologist may have requested for you to be seen by the Specialist Nurses. Alternatively, your GP may have requested for you to attend for a heart test directly.

  If you attend a Consultation appointment you will have a full examination including a history of your symptoms and may be asked to have another ECG.

• Outpatient Clinics
  • Cardiac outpatient clinics occur in the Ulster, Lagan Valley, Downe and Ards Hospital sites.
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation nurse led service
  • Heart Failure Service
  • Cardiac Centre based in Ulster and Lagan Valley Hospitals
  • Rapid Access Angina Clinics based in Ulster, Lagan Valley and Downe hospitals
• Cardiac Investigation Unit

  This department provides diagnostic testing for Cardiology in the Ulster, Lagan Valley and Downe Hospital. Tests include:

  • Heart Monitoring for a period of time (24/48 hours up to 7 days)
  • Exercise ECG (bike or treadmill)
  • Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
  • Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram
  • Exercise Stress Echocardiogram
  • Pacemaker follow up
• Cardiology Wards
  • Ulster Hospital – Coronary Care Unit (ward 3C) and additional Cardiology beds in ward 5E
  • Lagan Valley Hospital – Coronary Care Unit, 3^rd floor, Lagan Valley Hospital