RAPID ACCESS CHEST PAIN CLINIC
Hotline fax 020 3315 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
Patient Details
General Practitioner Detail (or stamp)
Name
«PATIENT_Forename1»
Referring GP
«PATIENT_Registered_GP»
Date of Birth
«PATIENT_Date_of_Birth»
Practice Address
«PRACTICE_BlockAddress»
Address
«PATIENT_BlockAddress»
Telephone
«PATIENT_Main_Comm_No »
Telephone
«PRACTICE_Main_Comm_No»
Interpreter
required?
Yes
Fax
No
Language
Hospital Number
Referral date
«SYSTEM_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
«MEDICAL_HISTORY»
Current medication
«REPEATS»
ILLEGIBLE OR INCORRECTLY COMPLETED FORMS WILL BE RETURNED AND RESULT IN DELAYS TO THE RACPC
Cardiology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Cardiology SpR
For routine enquiries call 020 8746 5936
Bleep 4180 or 5259 via switchboard (020 8746
8000)
For urgent queries bleep 4895 via switchboard (020 8746 8000)
KCPCTITAF2009
RAPID ACCESS CHEST PAIN CLINIC
Patient Information Sheet
You have been referred by your doctor to the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic. This is in Out Patients 3, 1 st Floor, Lift Bank
C, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Fulham Road.
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 0208 846 6666.
What will happen at the clinic?
You will be seen by a Cardiac Nurse Specialist, who asks you some questions and then examines 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 will 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 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 020 8846 6666. If you have any questions about
the clinic you can contact the Cardiology Nurse Specialists on 0208 746 5936. If we are unavailable to take your call
please leave a message and we will get back to you within 24 hours (Monday – Friday).