Press Releases – Dorset Heart Clinic

CQC Press release

June 28, 2022 by admin

CQC report rates Dorset Heart Clinic as “GOOD” overall but also recognises outstanding practice

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has awarded Dorset Heart Clinic the overall rating of “GOOD” in their first report of the independent healthcare provider since its foundation in 2017.

Dorset Heart Clinic also won praise from the CQC for its innovative use of medical technology in delivering diagnostic procedures, and for developing enhanced systems to improve both patient outcome monitoring and patient feedback.

Under the heading of “Outstanding Practice”, the CQC reported: “The service used technology in innovative ways to enhance diagnostic procedures and had introduced enhanced systems to monitor patient outcomes, including opportunities for patients to provide feedback.”

Commending clinical teams for the quality of specialist care they provide and for the compassion shown to patients, the CQC reported that: “Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. They provided emotional support to patients, families and carers.”

The CQC report also commented on the consistent high levels of patient feedback provided by the service, stating: “Patients and relatives gave positive feedback about the service. Feedback data consistently showed patients rated highly the care provided by the service.

Feedback from patients included: “I cannot fault the treatment I received from the staff on the ward, in the theatre and from the administration” and “an excellent service, staff very professional and personable. I couldn’t have wished for better.”

Staff were also commended for their commitment to learning and understanding of quality improvements. The report stated: “Staff were committed to continually learning and improving services. They had a good understanding of quality improvement methods and the skills to use them. Leaders encouraged innovation and participation in research.”

Dorset Heart Clinic LLP Board members welcomed the CQC report.

Dr Ohri, CEO of Dorset Heart Clinic said: “This is our first CQC report since we opened in 2017 and we are extremely pleased that the professionalism and continued commitment to providing exceptional care for our patients has been recognised in this way.”

Dr Jehangir Din, Clinical Director of both Dorset Heart Clinic and the Cardiology Department of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust said: “It was clear to the CQC that we are an organisation that steadfastly prioritises one thing above all else: delivering the best possible care to patients with heart disease. Whatever else changes in the environment around us, patients will remain our focus, and our commitment to them will guide everything that we do.”

Mr Pete Papworth, designated Trust board member of the LLP and Chief Financial Officer for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust said: “This report and the overall rating of “good” is a fantastic achievement for Dorset Heart Clinic since being founded only a few years ago. I look forward to working with Dorset Heart Clinic to continue the actions taken following this review to help provide the best services for our patients.”

For further details and to read the full report, please go to: https://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-3550707911/services

EP Award

June 28, 2022August 25, 2021 by admin

Dorset Heart Clinic announces University Hospitals Dorset has joined exclusive list of Global Heart Centres of Excellence

Dorset Heart Clinic is proud to announce its NHS partner, University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) has been named as one of only nine ‘Centres of Excellence’ in the world for the treatment of a debilitating heart condition, called Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

UHD joins world-renowned cardiology centres including those at London’s Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital and Stanford University in the US, who are also on the list.

SVT is a rapid abnormal heartbeat caused by defects in the electrical system that controls the heart’s rhythm. Patients can experience a sudden rise in heart rate from a resting rate of 60 beats per minute to more than 200, leading to breathlessness, dizziness, chest pain, a pounding heart and extreme anxiety.

Arrhythmia Alliance – a coalition of charities, patient groups, patients, carers, medical groups, and allied health professionals – has now awarded UHD ‘Centre of Excellence’ status, in recognition of their treatment success rates – 95 per cent of patients are permanently cured of the condition – as well as an active research programme which has seen a number of scientific papers published.

The condition is treated using a technique called catheter ablation – wires are inserted from the top of the leg and guided to the heart, enabling the detection of abnormal circuits which are then cauterised.

SVT can be frightening and incapacitating, says Dr Richard Bala, consultant in electrophysiology and clinical lead in cardiac rhythm management, based at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, part of UHD.

“It’s debilitating for sufferers,” he said. “It causes unpredictable episodes of breathlessness, chest pounding and a feeling that they are about to black out, which patients can experience anything from just a few times each year to more than once a day.”

More than 300 patients with SVT from across Dorset, west Hampshire and Wiltshire have been successfully treated over the last year after undergoing catheter ablation for the condition, and more than 95 per cent of patients are permanently cured.

Ann Blake, from Bournemouth, was treated in May this year.

“My heart problems started when I had treatment for cancer 21 years ago,” explains Ann.

“The cardiology team picked up on the fact I was experiencing episodes of fast heart rhythms in my sleep – it occurred to me that it wasn’t nightmares that had been causing me to wake up in the middle of the night with a feeling of sheer panic, it was a heart problem.

“It would come on at any time, in the shower, in front of the television, anywhere – and it was frightening. I wondered each time if it was the start of a heart attack.

“Since having the treatment I haven’t had a single episode, and I don’t have to worry about one coming on unexpectedly.

“The cardiology team at Royal Bournemouth, from start to finish and throughout Covid-19, have all been incredible.”

Dr Bala says stories like Ann’s have helped the service receive worldwide attention. “This accreditation is a reflection of the hard work and enthusiasm of our team in providing the very best care for our patients – we are very proud.”

If you have any heart concerns or symptoms and would like to be reviewed, please contact the Dorset Heart Clinic to be seen by one of our expert cardiologists. We will always provide an appointment within a few days of being contacted.

Dr O’Kane Editor

June 28, 2022August 18, 2021 by admin

Dorset Heart Clinic Consultant Cardiologist named Editor-in-Chief of Prestigious Global Cardiology Journal

Dr Peter O’Kane, a Dorset Heart Clinic consultant interventional cardiologist has been named editor-in-chief of the global medical journal, Interventional Cardiology: Reviews, Research and Resources.

Dr Peter O’Kane will edit the journal – which contains evidence-based and peer-reviewed content showcasing the best research and innovation in cardiology from around the world – alongside his role as a cardiologist at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, part of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.

The print and online journal allows clinicians to share information and cardiology updates quickly while also playing host to live educational events and teaching sessions.

Dr O’Kane said: “During the pandemic, medial professionals relied heavily on quick, reliable information and this has continued. Being the editor-in-chief allows our trust to network with professionals and researchers from around the world and brings the newest innovative studies and trials directly into our hospitals.”

Continuing the trust’s contribution to education, research and practice, the cardiology department takes part in many international studies such as interventional trials, electrophysiology trials and heart failure studies. While in treatment, patients are offered clinical trials and many patients have given their time to help further research.

Dr O’Kane added: “For me, getting this position is a reflection on how fantastic the cardiology unit is and how much we contribute as a team. I am eager to use my cardiology experience to help develop the medical journal and I am optimistic about the opportunities this will bring into the Trust.”

Dorset Heart Clinic selected to receive another national award for Public Private Partnership of the Year

August 26, 2021September 20, 2018 by admin

WILTSHIRE, United Kingdom, Regent’s Park Healthcare Ltd., an independent healthcare company specialising in the delivery of cardiac services, today announced that the Dorset Heart Clinic has been selected as a finalist in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) of the Year category at the 2018 LaingBuisson Independent Healthcare Awards.

Entering their thirteenth year, the Independent Healthcare Awards which are sponsored by LaingBuisson (LB) are widely considered to be the most prestigious event in the healthcare sector calendar. The citation in the PPP award category reads: “For excellence in a strategic partnership between the public and independent sectors with a focus on outcomes, value for money and innovation.”

The judging panel aims to highlight the range of achievements within the independent healthcare sector and to pay tribute to those individuals and teams who have demonstrated outstanding excellence. LB are a leading independent provider of market intelligence to the independent sector and considered to have the expertise to identify and honour the best performing care providers in an industry where the independent sector is taking an ever more important role.

Commenting on the nomination, Dr. Ohri, CEO of Regent’s Park said: “It is a tremendous privilege to be nominated by LaingBuisson for these highly prestigious awards”. He added: “I believe the nomination is an endorsement of our business development strategy that is committed to finding efficient, high quality, and smarter ways of delivering healthcare with our NHS partners”.

Last year LB received over 350 nominations, with the winners on the night receiving their Awards in front of an audience of over 850 of their peers. The Awards will be hosted at the London Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in sight of the Houses of Parliament on 15^th November 2018.

Dorset Heart Clinic shortlisted as finalist at the 2018 HealthInvestor Awards

August 26, 2021April 3, 2018 by admin

BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom, 3 April 2018: Regent’s Park Healthcare and The Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation have been shortlisted as Finalist in the Public Private Partnership of the Year category at the 2018 HealthInvestor Awards. The award relates to their partnership called the ‘Dorset Heart Clinic’.

Dorset Heart Clinic is a brand new, state-of-the-art, private patient cardiology centre located within the Royal Bournemouth Hospital that opened in April 2017. The clinic is the largest dedicated private cardiology centre on the south coast of England.

This innovative strategic partnership between the two organisations ensures that private patients receive the ‘best-of-both-worlds’: world-class specialist care and the very highest standard of service, together with the confidence of being in the NHS with its safety-net of services on hand – a vast array of specialist equipment and staff often lacking in a private hospital. It also allows profits from the treatment of private patients to be re-invested back into frontline NHS care.

In summary, the Dorset Heart Clinic business model is a highly innovative and disruptive approach to the delivery of private cardiac services across the UK. It provides a novel blueprint on how the public and private sectors can co-exist in the delivery of safe, high quality and efficient care.

Background to the HealthInvestor Awards:

The HealthInvestor Awards is the biggest event of the year for the independent health industry.
The forum is designed to promote excellence and recognise innovation in the independent healthcare sector and attracts over 1,200 guests each year to the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. This year, the judges will be looking for organisations and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution to healthcare in 2017.
The HealthInvestor Awards offer an opportunity to showcase expertise and commitment to what is an increasingly important sector for the UK economy. The awards are aimed at those professionals investing in, advising or operating companies in the health and social care and the finalists represent the leading players in this diverse and burgeoning market.
Successful entries are shortlisted on the awards website before being sent to an independent panel of high profile judges. Finalists and other firms active in the health sector will then have the opportunity to attend a gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London’s largest prestige events venue.

For more information please visit the Dorset Heart Clinic website: www.dorsetheartclinic.co.uk or contact the Dorset Heart Clinic on 01202 705454.

Dorset Heart Clinic opens its doors

August 26, 2021April 3, 2017 by admin

LONDON, United Kingdom, 3 April, 2017: Regent’s Park Healthcare Ltd. (RPH), an independent healthcare company specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, today announced the opening of “The Dorset Heart Clinic”.

The Dorset Heart Clinic is a world-class, state-of-the-art, private patient cardiology centre located within the Royal Bournemouth Hospital – it is the largest dedicated private cardiology facility on the south coast of England.

The Dorset Heart Clinic provides a comprehensive range of outpatient and invasive cardiology services that include: cardiac screening, cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient investigations, simple and complex coronary stenting, device implantation, pacemaker insertion, cardioversion, cardiac resynchronisation therapy, simple and complex cardiac electrophysiology & ablation.

The Dorset Heart Clinic comprises a fully equipped outpatient suite on the first floor of the Jigsaw building with five private consulting rooms and four treatment rooms offering a full range of outpatient cardiology investigations including cardiac CT and cardiac MRI. Inpatient cardiology services with access to four cardiac cath labs are provided from a newly refurbished private patient room area called the ‘Regent’s Park Suite’. Each of the private rooms have ensuite facilities, smart TVs, internet access and dedicated telephones. Patients will also benefit from luxury bed linen, bathroom towels, robes, slippers and toiletries, as well as a private dining menu of quality food served with silver-plated cutlery. An on-site, full-time, business and patient support team will ensure private patients receive a first-class experience in a safe, welcoming and high-quality environment.

The Dorset Heart Clinic is led by a team of consultant cardiologists from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. They are at the forefront of their respective areas of clinical practice with reputations synonymous with excellence both nationally and internationally. They are supported by a comprehensive team of cardiac professionals that include specialist nurses, physiologists, radiographers and dietitians. The Royal Bournemouth Hospital has one of the largest and best equipped cardiac departments in the NHS with over 300 cardiac staff, 4 cath labs and 16 critical care beds. Together, the Dorset Heart Clinic team provide expertise across every aspect of cardiovascular disease management.

The Dorset Heart Clinic is registered as a private acute healthcare facility with the Care Quality Commission. It has also been awarded BUPA healthcare quality accreditation and therefore recognition as a cardiac centre across the nationwide BUPA network. The heart clinic is located in bespoke facilities, integrated with the NHS, to ensure the highest level of safety and quality.

Dr. Ohri, Chief Executive Officer of Regent’s Park Healthcare Ltd said, “This is a very exciting day for all of us. It is the culmination of many months of careful planning and a tribute to the successful working relationship between the Trust, the cardiologists’ and our company.” He added, “This is a win-win for all. It will mean private patients are assured of world-class specialist care and the very highest standard of service, together with the confidence of being in the NHS with its safety-net of resources on hand. It will allow cardiologists’ to remain within their NHS hospital, to support the NHS, and to work with staff that they know. It will also mean the Trust can repatriate income from private hospitals and re-invest these monies back into frontline NHS care.”

He said, “We feel privileged to be opening the Dorset Heart Clinic and to continue working with the highly dedicated staff and management at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. We believe there is a large market gap for safe, high quality, private cardiology services across the region, it is a gap we intend to fill and grow in the coming months and years ahead.”

Dr. Ohri added, “In summary, the Dorset Heart Clinic will provide unparalleled world-class specialist care and the very highest standard of service to patients with heart disease from across the county and its surrounding areas, the Channel Islands and internationally.”