Who we are
Wirral Community Cardiology (previously, Wirral Heart Support Centre) consists of:
- Heart Failure Service
- Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Service
- Community Cardiology Clinic
- Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic
What we do
The aim of the Community Cardiology Service is to offer help, support and education to people living in Wirral with cardiovascular conditions. Once a cardiovascular diagnosis is made, the correct care and treatment will be offered from one of our specialist teams:
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (Cardiac Rehab)
The Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Service helps people recover and resume a full life as quickly as possible following a heart attack, stent or coronary artery bypass. They also help people maintain and improve physical fitness if they have a heart condition such as heart failure or angina.
The Cardiovascular Rehabilitation programme offers exercise, education and support, medication titration (adjusting your medication dosage) as well as peer support from other people attending. A follow-on community based programme called CardioFit is also available for those wishing to continue exercising at the end of the programme. Ask a member of our team for more information on CardioFit.
Heart Failure Team
The Heart Failure Team offers medication titration, education, advice and follow up support to patients with a diagnosis of heart failure. The team also offer support where palliative care is required.
‘Heart failure’ is a term used when the heart becomes less efficient at pumping blood around the body, either while you are resting or active. The term ‘heart failure’ can be misunderstood because it implies that the heart has actually failed.
However, most people can take control of their condition by making changes to their lifestyle, monitoring symptoms and taking prescribed medication.
Community Cardiology Clinic
The Community Cardiology Team offers diagnostics to confirm/refute a cardiac diagnosis and if appropriate review by a Specialist Nurse, GP with Special Interest (GPSI) or Cardiologist.
How to access
Heart Failure Team
If you have been a patient of the heart failure team before you can self-refer back into the service by giving us a call on 0151 604 7711
New patient referrals are accepted from GPs, allied health professionals, Wirral University Teaching Hospital and Tertiary centres by email, SystmOne or via contacting Single Point of Access.
Criteria: Patients must have a confirmed diagnosis by echo/cardiac MRI/coronary angiogram.
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
GPs/Practice Nurses and other health professionals can refer patients via email.
CardioFit referrals can only be accepted if you are currently under the care of the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation team or have previously completed the programme.
Criteria: following a heart attack or heart surgery; those at high risk or already have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or following a diagnosis of heart failure.
Community cardiology clinic
Referrals are via WROCs and email.
Criteria: patients with cardiac sounding symptoms such as chest pain, rhythm changes.
Contact details
Ground Floor, Wing 2
St Catherine’s Health Centre
Church Road
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH42 0LQ
Queries to wcnt.contactmewhsc@nhs.net
Tel: 0151 604 7307 for Community Cardiology Clinic, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation and Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic
Tel: 0151 604 7711 for Heart Failure Service
Locations where our service is available
Heart Failure
Clinics available at:
- St Catherine’s Health Centre
- Victoria Central Health Centre
- The Warrens
- Marine Lake Medical centre
- Eastham Health Centre
Appointments are also available as home visits for patients who are too unwell/housebound.
Clinic days/times differ across sites. The service runs Monday-Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm excluding Bank Holidays. It is not an emergency service.
Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
Sessions and appointments available at:
- St Catherine’s Health Centre
- Victoria Central Health Centre (seated exercise programme only)
Community Cardiology Clinic
- St Catherine’s Health Centre – cardiology/specialist nurse/GPSi and diagnostic appointments
- Victoria Central Health Centre – GPSI and diagnostics available diagnostics
- The Warrens- diagnostics only
