Barts and The London Heart and Chest Centre | About us
About us
One of the leading heart specialist centres in the UK
Over the course of the year, Barts and The London Heart Centre treats around 9,000 people with heart problems - including some of the most seriously ill patients in London. Part of Barts and The London NHS Trust, we provide cardiac services at St Bartholomew’s Hospital by St Paul’s in the City of London, The London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green and The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.
We offer the highest level of heart and chest surgery as well as less invasive heart procedures and treatments offered by top cardiologists.
We operate the UK’s biggest heart attack centre and have one of the biggest heart rehabilitation teams in the country.
We are also leading the way in developing treatments for people with irregular heart rhythms. We pioneered the catheter ablation procedure to treat atrial fibrillation (the most common abnormal heart rhythm) and now perform around 400 every year.
Our Heart Attack Centre recently won a top award for their fast-track service. The service unblocks arteries within 90 minutes of a patient having a heart attack. This prevents any further damage and has been proven to aid recovery.
Warm welcome
We recognise that patients with heart conditions require very special attention before, during and after their treatment. Our team of experts will make you feel comfortable throughout your stay with us.
Leading specialists
We see a high concentration of complex cases, so our hospitals are home to some of Britain’s leading specialists. Their expertise benefits all our patients. Our teaching hospital status means that we have a higher ratio of doctors and nurses to patients than non-teaching hospitals. This also helps to deliver the best care for our patients.
Individual care
Our highly trained teams understand that patient care needs to be individualised, taking into account psychological and social needs, alongside medical treatment. Our award-winning cardiac rehabiliation team is one of the biggest in the country. The team provide ongoing support to people who have had or are at risk of having cardiac problems.
Using research to develop cutting-edge treatments
As a large teaching and specialist hospital we conduct a wide variety of medical research to ensure that we provide the most advanced and successful treatments for our patients. Working closely with Barts and The London Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, our team of clinicians and scientists are at the forefront of research – investigating new therapies and novel approaches for the diagnosis, classification and treatment of heart conditions.
Professor Martin Rothman, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, and his team recently won an NHS award for new ideas. Their work on a device, which is small enough to be implanted without the need for surgery and is used to treat serious cases of heart failure, was judged to be the best leading medical device.
Advanced technology
Our imaging department has the full range of diagnostic equipment including a state-of-the-art CT scanner, a PET/CT scanner and new MRI machine, allowing our surgeons to make accurate diagnoses and surgical plans.
Seamless service
We ensure that patients and their carers are kept fully informed at each stage of their care. We also work closely with our local healthcare partners ensuring that care continues after our patients leave hospital.
Download an Article on Barts and The London Cardiac services published in Coronary Heart magazine.
