RAPID ACCESS CHEST PAIN CLINIC
Hotline fax 0203 315 8814
If you suspect a cardiac cause to your patient’s chest pain, we
welcome your patient irrespective of:



Address
Any previous assessment
Any previous cardiac history or revascularisation
ILLEGIBLE OR INCORRECTLY COMPLETED FORMS WILL BE RETURNED AND RESULT IN DELAYS TO THE
RACPC
Patient Details
General Practitioner Detail (or stamp)
Name
Referring GP
Address
Practice
Address
Date of Birth
Telephone
Interpreter
required?
Telephone
Yes
No
Language
NHS
Number
Fax
Referral date
Referral Criteria (please tick boxes)
New onset exertional chest pain
Pain free at rest and no clinical suspicion of an acute coronary syndrome
Patients with known IHD under follow-up with recent deterioration of symptoms
Details and symptoms and past cardiac history
Any relevant past medical history
Current medication
Cardiology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Appointments Contact Number – 0203 315 6666
For non-urgent enquiries call 0203 315 5936 please leave a
message on the answer phone. Sue Bourne works part-time
and will check the phone on Tuesdays and Thursdays and
return your call
GP Advice – For urgent clinical advice please call
Cardiology SpR
Bleep 4787 via switchboard (0203 315 8000)
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RAPID ACCESS CHEST PAIN CLINIC
Patient Information Sheet
You have been referred by your doctor to the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic.
For your appointment please report to the Outpatients Department; LG Floor – Gate 4 at Chelsea and
Westminster Hospital, Fulham Road. Access is via Lift bank C or the escalator.
Your doctor has asked you to come to the clinic to try and find the cause of your symptoms. The clinic
provides a specialist service and allows us to find out quickly whether your chest pain is caused by heart
disease or not. Usually we are able to perform the necessary tests and give you a good idea of the cause of
your chest pain all at the same time.
The hospital will contact you by telephone within 24 hours of receiving the referral from your GP (Mon-Fri) to
arrange your appointment. If they are not able to reach you within 48 hours, a letter will be sent to your
home address giving you an appointment; the appointment date will be within 14 days of the referral. If you
have not heard from the hospital within 4 working days please contact the appointments office on 0203 315
6666.
What will happen at the clinic?
You will be seen by a Cardiology Doctor or Cardiac Nurse Specialist, who will ask you some questions and
then examine your heart.
They may then decide you need the following tests while you are in the hospital, or these may be arranged
for a later date.

An ECG (heart tracing)

An exercise stress test - This helps the Cardiology team to see how your heart responds to stress. It
provides information on whether there might be narrowing in the blood vessels to the heart. The test
involves the electrodes being placed on the chest and walking on a treadmill whilst your pulse, blood
pressure and heart tracing are monitored. Please wear shoes which are comfortable and well fitting.
It takes 20-30 minutes.

X-ray and blood tests
If for whatever reason you are unable to exercise, we may need to perform an alternative test at a later
date.
What else happens at the clinic?
You will be told the results of your tests and your potential diagnosis before you leave the clinic. You may
need to come back for review in the outpatients department and you may need more tests booked. A letter
containing all the information will be sent to you and your doctor after your consultation. You may spend 1-2
hours at the clinic depending on which tests are needed, but you will benefit from having a complete medical
assessment in one visit. If your chest pain gets worse before your clinic appointment, please call an
ambulance to take you to the nearest A&E department.
Contact us
If you are unable to attend, please contact the Appointments office on 0203 315 6666. If you have any
questions about the clinic you can contact Sue Bourne Cardiology Nurse Specialist on 0203 315 5936. As Sue
works part-time please leave a message and she will return your call on her work day (Tuesday or Thursday).
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