New cardiac procedure will save more lives

Heart Patients in Lincolnshire will for the first time be able to receive potentially life-saving treatment thanks to the expansion of a hospital unit.

Lincoln County Hospital is expanding its cardiac unit and it is due to begin carrying out angioplasties this week.

It will be the first time such procedures, which improve the blood supply to the heart to treat coronary disease and angina, will have been carried out in Lincolnshire.

Until now, patients who needed the operation were usually sent to hospitals in Leicester or Nottingham for treatment.

Sister in the Cardiac Catheter Lab, Pat Kitching, said the expansion into this new work is exciting for the hospital.

"Previously the main work of this laboratory has been diagnostic," she said.

"We will diagnose blockages in the coronary arteries of patients and fit new pacemakers.

"But since the lab opened in 2004, we have always aimed to expand the work we do into interventional work such as angioplasties and it's great that we can now do that."

New nursing staff, radiography staff and a new consultant have been recruited to develop the new service.

For more on angiplasties, see Monday's Echo.