Cardiac Rehabilitation Lothian is an outpatient service which employs a multidisciplinary team which includes nurses occupational therapists, physiotherapists, doctors and psychologists.
We are based in the Astley Ainslie Hospital in Edinburgh but have a range of clinics throughout East, Mid and West Lothian.
The aim of Cardiac Rehabilitation is to provide patients and their families with the knowledge and skills to self manage their heart condition into the long term. We help with physical and psychological affects that people may have after being diagnosed with a heart condition.
These conditions are many and varied but you will be routinely offered an assessment after the following cardiac diagnosis:
- a heart attack,
- angina with stenting,
- coronary artery bypass surgery
- or heart valve surgery.
We accept referrals for other conditions such as heart failure, stable angina, out of hospital cardiac arrest and adult congenital heart disease. You can be referred into our service by your GP or healthcare provider.
We work closely with our community partners including British Heart Foundation, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, and Edinburgh, Mid, West and East Lothian Leisure.
Assessment
All patients are invited to attend initial assessment after their cardiac diagnosis. This may be over one or two appointments. The assessment will be with one of the team. The first appointment is usually made over the telephone. Subsequent appointments can then be face to face, telephone or by our Nearme video appointment system. It may be that a face to face appointment is best for some appointments and your team member will advise you know. Otherwise do let them know your preferences. A House of Care approach to assessment is used within all of our clinics which is:
- Underpinned by shared decision making
- Person-centred model used to support long term condition self management
- Help and support with managing risk factor linked to heart disease such and smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes
Next Steps
Following your assessment, a range of interventions are discussed and an agreed care plan reflecting our joint assessment of your needs and choices is established. In house interventions may include working with a member of the team on a 1:1 basis, for example for exercise or in supporting return to work.
The Team
Nursing – we have an experienced nurse team. Specialist nursing interventions include ECG, taking bloods, wound management and medical risk factor management
Medical – We have a consultant with rehabilitation medicine working within the team.
Occupational Therapy – Getting back to work after a heart attack or surgery can sometimes prove challenging. At your assessment if we think you need further support we can arrange for you to see one of our occupational therapists. Patients, who have a physical element to their job, can be offered a comprehensive work assessment to identify any issues or barriers to getting back to employment. They can also offer a written report for your employer. This provides details of practical adjustments that employers can make to facilitate your / allow you to return to work.
Physiotherapy – If you require specialist support with physical recovery then this can be provided by our physical therapy team. Individual assessments are carried out and appropriate exercises and advice given. We have a range of tests to measure your fitness which are appropriate to all levels of exercise.
Psychology – Heart conditions can affect people psychologically as well as physically. All the team have training in supporting and assessing psychological needs. We use a stepped care model which means you will be seen by the most appropriate person in working with your psychological issues. Where appropriate you can be referred to our Cardiac Psychologists. This is an outpatient service for patients aged 16 and over. Patients are seen individually for short-term focused therapy, such as Cognitive Behaviour therapy. Further information is available on the psychological health and wellbeing page.
Partner services
We work in partnership with colleagues from the lipid (cholesterol) clinic, smoking cessation and weight management. We have direct referral links to leisure facilities across Lothian where patients can access timely physical exercise and support in their local area.
How can we help?
Have a browse of the content on this website and use our information, resources and contacts if you think it may be of benefit to you or someone you know. If after this you feel you could benefit from being seen by our service contact your GP and ask to be referred.
