Cardiology Services

Cardiology Services are provided at Antrim Area and Causeway Hospitals.

At Antrim Area hospital, there are 35 beds for inpatients. The Coronary Care Unit (CCU) has 8 beds and Ward B3 has 27 beds.

At Causeway hospital there are 14 beds for inpatients. These beds are in the Coronary Care Medical Monitoring Unit (CCMMU).

We provide comprehensive care for patients with different heart conditions, including ischaemic heart disease (heart attack and angina), rhythm disturbances, and heart failure and heart valve diseases. Patients are prepared for cardiac investigations such as coronary angiography (dye test), pacemakers, and implantable defibrillators and we also provide pre and post procedure care for patients undergoing heart surgery.

Antrim Area hospital works closely with Belfast Health and Social Care Trust cardiology department and Causeway hospital works closely with Western Health and Social Care Trust cardiology department, liaising closely with the schedulers ensuring that all procedures are completed in a timely manner, supported by NICE guidelines.

In both hospitals, there is a team of highly trained staff who are responsible for the day to day running of the department. They all endeavour to provide high quality person centred care for all inpatients.

Cardiac Investigations

At both hospital sites we offer a wide range of cardiac investigations and imaging modalities which help the doctors to make diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment. Tests provided at both hospitals are:

• Exercise Stress Test (Treadmill)
• Cardiac rhythm monitoring
• 24hr blood pressure monitoring
• Echocardiography
• Cardiac CT

Antrim Area hospital only:

• Transthoracic and trans-oesophageal echocardiography (TOE)
• Cardiac MRI
• Myocardial perfusion Imaging (MPI)

Cardiac Physiologists carry out checks on pacemakers and other implanted cardiac devices at specialist clinics.

Direct Current Cardioversion Clinic (DCC Clinic)

This service is provided for patients who have atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat). In Antrim Area hospital, a clinic is held weekly in the Programmed Treatment Unit (PTU). Patients are referred to this unit by a Cardiologist or Specialty doctor. Patients receive an appointment for their treatment and two days prior to the appointment a member of staff from the Coronary Care Unit will contact the patient/service user by telephone to ensure that they are on the correct medication and clarify any concerns they may have.

Patients usually attend the cardiac investigation unit in Antrim Hospital on the morning of their appointment prior to admission to the Programmed Treatment Unit  (PTU). Patients are treated and discharged from PTU.

Causeway hospital, Direct Current Cardioversion Clinic (DCC) is provided 2 to 3 times per week in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). Patients are treated and discharged the same day.

British Heart Foundation
Chest and Heart Foundation