The Evening Times ran an article about figures in a new report showing that women from Lanarkshire experience higher-than-average rates of stillbirth and neonatal deaths than other parts of Scotland. The region recorded the second-highest rate in Scotland with 6.42 deaths per 1,000 births. However it is worth noting that the figure of 7,096 Lanarkshire resident […]
Andrew’s climbing to beat chest pain
When Andrew Jamieson was diagnosed with angina, Wishaw General’s cardiac rehabilitation nurses helped him get back on his feet.
Wishaw General is one of the first hospitals in Scotland to fully integrated angina service, which cares for patients from diagnosis through to follow up care and lifestyle advice.
The nurse-led service sees patients with angina being diagnosed and treated before receiving a further assessment where they are referred to the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation exercise class.
Andrew, from Motherwell, said: “A few years ago, I had been feeling a bit breathless and felt some tightness in my chest.
“My father had coronary heart disease and died in his forties. Being in my late fifties, I decided I needed to do something, so I made an appointment with my GP.”
Andrew was referred to the rapid access chest pain clinic at Wishaw General Hospital.
Andrew said: “I was diagnosed with angina and put on medication. The nurse suggested that I attend an eight week cardio rehab class in the hospital’s physiotherapy department.”
After the eight week exercise programme, patients who are able are invited to attend a similar ten session course at their local gym. This course is facilitated by trained staff.
Andrew added: “Because my job is quite physical, I said to the instructor that his challenge, if he chose to accept it, was to get me to climb an 80 metre ladder. He said there was no reason why I shouldn’t be able to do that.”
Ann Marie Blaney, chest pain nurse specialist, said: “Patients who are diagnosed with angina at the rapid access chest pain clinic are reviewed at the nurse led clinic.
“When a patient’s condition is stable, we offer them a place on our eight week exercise clinic. The classes are tailored to each patient’s needs and can be either high intensity or low intensity.
“NHS Lanarkshire is one of the first health boards to introduce this type of service for angina patients. After a diagnosis, each patient is reviewed again before being referred to the exercise and education programme.
“We see their health improving and they see the difference. Hopefully they keep it up and change their lifestyle for the better. “
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