Adult Congenital Heart Disease
The Sheffield Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic is a collaborative service provided by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust led by Dr Laurence O’Toole and the Congenital Heart Centre at Leeds General Infirmary, led by Dr Kate English. The service is part of the Yorkshire Adult Congenital Heart Disease Network.
Congenital heart disease affects about 1% of all babies. Twenty years ago only 15% of babies with complex congenital heart disease survived to the age of 18 years but advances in children’s heart surgery mean that over 85% now survive into adulthood. This had driven the need for coordinated expert long term care for this growing population of patients.
Many people born with heart disease, even people who have had major surgery as a child have been lost to cardiac follow-up as they entered adult life. A significant number have residual heart problems, and, perhaps, an uncertain prognosis. The ACHD clinic offers cardiac assessment and long term surveillance to these people. There are numerous general heart issues which could affect ACHD patients such as suitability for pregnancy, employment and endocarditis prophylaxis.
The ACHD clinic runs once per month at the Chesterman Unit, Northern General Hospital. There are two Consultant Cardiologists, a visiting specialist nurse and echocardiographer in attendance. There is a lunchtime multidisciplinary meeting involving the Cardiothoracic Surgeons and Radiologists with an interest in cardiac imaging. Currently, over 400 patients are under surveillance but the service is keen to hear of any potentially suitable patients from Primary Care.
If you have a patient over the age of 18 years in South Yorkshire with congenital heart disease whom you feel may benefit from reassessment then please contact:
Dr Laurence O’Toole.
c/o Adult Congenital Heart Secretary
Chesterman Wing
Northern General Hospital
Herries Rd
Sheffield S5 7AU
Clinic days
Fridays – Chesterman Wing, Northern General Hospital
