Last month, I had a discussion with Professor Simon Ray about how COVID-19 had led to digital innovation in patient pathways. Part of that discussion was around the dramatic reduction of in-person appointments in favour of virtual appointments. We spoke about what best practice in this new style of appointment looks like, and the importance of recreating the comfort and confidence patients get in-person services in this new style of appointment. As a result of this discussion, Heart Valve Voice decided to make a Virtual Appointment Guide that prepares patients and ensures they’re getting the most out of this new style of [...]

Livvy Gosney is currently waiting for surgery for bicuspid valve disease. This is her story about life before treatment. I was diagnosed with heart valve disease in 2015. At the time, I thought I was diabetic, as I had gestational diabetes in 2012 and found myself feeling the same some three and a half years later. My Dr listened to my heart, heard a murmur and asked me to come back in 2 weeks. When I went back, the murmur was still there, so I was referred for an echocardiogram at Salisbury Hospital. The result came back as Bicuspid Valve [...]

Last week, I spoke with Professor Simon Ray, President of British Cardiovascular Society, about changes to appointments, clinics and MDT’s. In our discussion, we looked at how digital innovation has been used to limit in-person services in favour of virtual clinics. Now, the reasoning for this move may be COVID-19, but as we move forward, it is clear that these changes will remain. Patient experience must be at the centre of this new practice, and we recreate the same sense of comfort patients receive from meeting their clinical team in person. Click here to read the transcript of that discussion. [...]

In my last blog, I discussed the importance of capturing key learnings from Phase 1 of NHS England's COVID-19 response and looked at ways in which we could use these learnings to support us in delivering the NHS Long Term Plan. In my analysis, I assessed how innovative treatments have helped to streamline pathways to reduce hospital stays, reducing patients risk of contracting COVID-19 and freeing up hospital resources. Amongst the technological advancements seen during the outbreak are technologies which will reduce hospital admissions and empower patients with resources with which they can manage their conditions. These resources will be [...]

In an email sent out last week, NHS England signalled a move from phase 1 to phase 2 of its Covid-19 response. The email maps a move to restart urgent elective care procedures in the next six weeks, as well as some non-urgent elective care procedures. As we move to the next phase of our Covid-19 response, we must take a moment now to analyse our learnings from phase 1, so we can lock-in beneficial changes and also understand how the first phase of Covid-19 has affected the trajectory of the NHS Long Term Plan. The first phase of our [...]

At the very height of the country’s response to the COVID19 outbreak, George became unwell and was rushed to hospital unaware that the heart valve disease symptoms he was suffering were life-threatening. Retired factory worker George Clague has lived in the beautiful hills of the Lake District for his entire life. In his youth, he would spend his time camping in his favourite spots and later in life, he and his wife would spend the summer wandering along the trails. This is his valve disease story. “It’s really hard to say when I first realised something was up. Part of [...]

In June 2019, Ian Berry underwent heart surgery at The Royal Brompton Hospital in London to replace a defective aortic valve, after being diagnosed with a heart murmur in July 2014 at a routine health check. As an Army veteran, Ian was used to a reasonable level of fitness and the toll of rigorous exercise on the body. However, he began to experience chest pains and shortness of breath at relatively low exertion levels, radically reducing his performance. Realising something was up, he went to his GP and was treated for moderate aortic stenosis. Now, just over 9 months later, [...]

In my last blog, I discussed how innovative technology will be a central component in the improved detection, diagnosis, and treatment of heart valve disease. However, when we talk about innovation improving treatment pathways, we are talking about more than just cutting edge technologies. We are talking about innovative, cutting edge, thinking and practices too. Therefore, for the NHS to deliver The Long Term Plan looking at new structures across the patient pathway will be key, as well as empowering the workforce to work smarter. If we are to succeed in increasing the diagnosis, detection and treatment of heart valve [...]

After the incredible PCR Conference, a fortnight ago, this week we’ve been at the British and Irish Society for Minimal Invasive Cardiac Surgery (BISMICS) conference talking to medical professionals and industry leaders about the improving innovation of minimal invasive surgery and what the future hold for this surgical technique. Heart Valve Voice were there to present on empowering patients with information, knowledge and confidence to choose the best surgery option for them, and to talk about the benefits of MIS for patient experience. Minimal invasive surgery has several benefits regarding patient experience. Recovery time is quicker, meaning patients who have [...]

Wow, Five years! To see a report which crystallises the hard work that has been put in over these past five years is heart-warming. Whilst the future of heart valve disease looks challenging, seeing how we turned the aims and aspirations from five years ago into real change provides hope. However, knowing we have already improved and extended the lives of so many gives us the fire to continue doing what we do - and the determination to do even more. Whilst the PCR conference was where we celebrated the launch of our Five-Year Report, it was also an [...]