What is the Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic?
Your GP has referred you to this clinic as you have been experiencing
chest discomfort. He wants to know if the pain is of cardiac origin.
Before the test
Please brink a copy of your repeated prescription/list of the medication
with dosage. It is important that you eat only light meal and avoid
strenuous exercise for 4 hours prior the test, refrain from smoking for
24 hours and stop any of medication listed below for 48 hours (i.e. last
dose taken 72 hours prior the test). Some of these drugs may be known
by other names (brand names). If in doubt check with your pharmacist
or doctor. Please also bring the actual list of your medication
including dosage with you.
♥Acebutolol
♥Atenolol
♥Bisoprolol
♥Carvedilol
♥Celiprolol
♥Labetalol
♥Metoprolol
♥ Verapamil
♥Nadolol
♥Nebivolol
♥Oxprenolol
♥Pindolol
♥Propranolol
♥Timolol
♥ Diltiazem
♥ Ivabradine
On Arrival
Please hand this letter in at the reception desk within the department
and a member of staff will direct you where to sit. The whole
appointment will take about one hour.
What Happens
You will first be seen by the cardiac nurse specialist who will ask you
questions about your condition. The nurse will then examine, check
your pulse blood pressure and listening to your heart and lungs. You
will then be asked to walk on a treadmill if you feel you are physically
able while connected to an ECG monitor. This is to see the effects on
the heart while doing exercise. The cardiac technicians will supervise
the test throughout.
If you feel you cannot continue the technicians will stop the test but it is
important that you do as much exercise as you possibly can in order for
the results to be meaningful.
Once the test has finished, the technicians will ask you to sit back in the
chair and your heart will be monitored until it returns to its resting rate.
The whole test takes approximately 30 minutes.
Should you have any worries about the procedure the technicians will
be only too pleased to discuss them with you.
Alternatively, depending on your risk profile and your ability to walk,
you might undergo stress echocardiogram. This is at discretion of the
nurse/physician. During this test the heart rate is increased with
medication and continuous echocardiogram scanning monitors the
heart’s response to stress.
What Happens Next?
The cardiac nurse will explain the results to you and if necessary
prescribe you appropriate medication. If the test shows you have angina
an appointment will be made with you to see the cardiac nurse in one
week.
Complications
There is a small risk of complications, but the technicians are very
experienced at this technique and have all the necessary equipment and
backup to deal with any emergency, so reducing the risks to the
minimum.
Cancellations
We have many patients waiting for this clinic. If you cannot keep your
appointment it is very important that you let us know so that another
person can be offered that slot. Please phone us on 0161 746 2190.
Comments
We are always trying to improve the service to our patients. If you
have any comments or suggestions at any time during your visit or after
you have left the department we will be delighted to discuss them with
you.
How to get there
The hospital is situated on Moorside Road in Davyhulme.
Parking is available at the front of the hospital, and is free of charge for
three hours. You may find it more convenient to use the parking at the
rear of the hospital, by driving via Moorside Road, past the staff car
park barrier to the car park at Pathology. You may also use the pick up
and drop off point at the endoscopy unit on the right as you go past the
staff car park barrier. You will find the department first on the left as
you enter the main hospital through this door.
Please note: vehicles found illegally parked within the hospital ground
are wheel clamped and are subject to a release fee.
If you have any questions related to the clinic please contact the cardiac
nurse on 0161 746 2697.
Please make sure you understand your condition and
the proposed treatment before leaving the department.
Ask for clarification if any point is not clear in your
mind.
Cardiology Department
Further information about Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust is
available at www.trafford.nhs.uk
Date leaflet produced: February 2011
Review date: February 2013
Version no: 13
Author: Richard Baugh, Cardiac rehabilitation Nurse
General Information
Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic
Patient information leaflet