Life-saving Altnagelvin Hospital cardiac care service celebrates its 10 year anniversary

Cardiology Team at Altnagelvin celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the PPCI service saving and treated thousands of heart attack patients

placeholder image — Cardiology Team at Altnagelvin celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the PPCI service saving and treated thousands of heart attack patients

The Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI) service has saved countless lives

The Cardiac Team at Altnagelvin Hospital was celebrating 10 years since the state-of the-art Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI) service began.

The PPCI service has treated and saved thousands of heart attacks patients in the Western Trust area and beyond since its inception, with patients being taken immediately to the catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab) instead of being given a clot-busting drug (Thrombolysis).

When a heart artery is blocked, typically by a fatty deposit/ blood clot, a person will suffer a STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) heart attack. Outcomes for patients who suffer a STEMI form of heart attack are significantly better with PPCI than with Thrombolysis.

There are only two PPCI centers in NI, the other being at the Belfast Trust. From 2016 the Western Trust has also been treating patients from Co. Donegal who suffer a STEMI form of heart attack.

Geraldine McKay, Director of Unscheduled Care, Medicine, Cancer and Clinical Services, Western Trust said: “I wish to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our dedicated Cardiology team who provide this lifesaving 24/7, 365 day service to our patients.

“Throughout the past 10 years, the service has treated over 2,600 patients who would have otherwise had to travel to Belfast or Galway and experienced long delays for treatment. This is an excellent example of multidisciplinary team working to deliver definitive and immediate treatment to a set of high risk patients on a 24/7 basis.”

Geraldine McKay Director of Unscheduled Care, Medicine, Cancer and Clinical Services, Dr Tom Frawley Western Trust Chair and Dr Sinead Hughes Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead.

Dr Sinead Hughes, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead congratulated the incredibly dedicated Cardiology team in Altnagelvin Hospital who treat patients at all hours of the day and night to save lives.

She also paid tribute to former Clinical Lead Dr Albert McNeill, (who was instrumental in delivering PPCI to WHSCT) and Professor Paul McGlinchey for all that they both did to establish and maintain this vital service.