Barts and The London Heart Surgery Centre
From physiotherapists to dietitians, our teams of highly skilled health professionals work alongside medical staff to help care for our patients. We recognise that your care does not begin and end when you come into and leave hospital and so we work closely with healthcare colleagues in the community to ensure that you are supported when you leave.
After your heart surgery, you will be supported by our team of physiotherapists who will visit you regularly and will develop an individualised plan to help you return to your normal life. They may encourage you to do deep breathing exercises and to exercise your arms and legs whilst you are in bed, or sitting in a chair, to improve your circulation. He/she will help you to start walking again, usually on the second day after your operation.
Advance nurse practitioners are specialist nurses in heart and lung surgery. They are part of the team who will care for patients from their first appointment with the surgeon until they are discharged home. Most patients will know the name of their Advanced Nurse Practitioner before their admission.
On being referred to the heart surgery centre, you will be assigned a patient care advisor. He/she will become your single point of contact for any queries that you or your relatives have about your care.
Click here for patient care advisor contact details.
Cardiac Rehabilitation is integral to recovery. We offer several courses based around supervised exercise programmes that will give you confidence, get you fit and back to leading a normal life.
The Cardiac rehabilitation team is one of the leading services in London and won a Cardiac Journal of Nursing Award.
We provide ongoing support to people who have had or are at risk of having a cardiac event.
We work cross sites, covering The London Chest, St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London hospitals. The team are available at every stage to give advice and information to aid recovery and help you return to a normal lifestyle.
Prior to discharge, you will be invited to attend a post operative discussion provided by a member of the Cardiac Rehabilitation team.
Information and advice about your initial recovery at home will be given and this is also a good time to ask any questions you may have.
For local patients based in the Tower Hamlets area, our Phase II coordinator is available to provide support in the immediate discharge period at home.
Patients are also invited to attend a Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme. The courses are for local patients who have had chest pain, a heart attack and any other heart condition e.g. surgery or stents. They are designed to help you learn more about your heart and how to reduce the risk of future heart problems as well as providing emotional support.
The course is based at the London Chest Hospital, Bethnal Green and involves education sessions, relaxation and physical exercise.
Bengali rehabilitation course
To reflect the cultural needs of our local community we have also developed an award winning and innovative course designed for Bengali patients with dedicated Health Advocates. This is based at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.
“We want to make sure that people feel supported when they leave hospital. Some women aren’t comfortable with the idea of going to a gym so we organise female-only sessions to help them feel more relaxed”, explains Judith Colley, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse, in reference to the Bengali programme.
We actively encourage a close friend or family member to attend at least one class to see how things are progressing and help build confidence.
If you do not live in Tower Hamlets, you will be referred to your local Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre by the Barts and the London Team after discharge.
Home-based rehabilitation
We are currently developing a service that will provide our patients cardiac rehabilitation in their own homes. More details about this will be available soon.
Meet the team
As well as specialist nurses, the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team includes other professionals such as physiotherapists, dieticians, pharmacists and a clinical psychologist.
The London Chest Hospital
Debbie Whitfield – Lead Nurse
Mary Gilbride – Senior Sister
Carmel McCallan - Sister
Regina Wade – Sister
Andrea Pace – Sister
Ifza Hussain - Staff Nurse
Gloria Hall – Secretary/Administrator
Terry Brooks – Nursing Assistant
The Royal London Hospital
Judith Colley - Senior Sister
Kelly Read – Senior Sister, Phase II Co-ordinator
Sheuli Begum – Secretary/Administrator
Rasheda Shamsunnahar – Bengali Health Advocate
Sabiha Choudhury – Bengali Health Advocate
The team also visit Barts Hospital on a weekly basis.
Contact details
The London chest Hospital 020 89832357
The Royal London Hospital 020 73777344
Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase II Co-ordinator 020 7377 7320
Cardiac Rehabilitation information lines
The London Chest Hospital 020 8983 2357
The Royal London hospital 020 7377 7344 (Bengali advocate)
These lines are available Monday-Friday 9am–5pm for advice and information. Messages are checked within these times and we aim to return calls by the next working day.
If you have a medical emergency, please contact your GP or dial 999.
For information about your local Cardiac Rehabilitation services please contact your nearest hospital or the British Heart Foundation for details.