The adult congenital service is
an integral part of the cradle to grave service in the
South West and South Wales Congenital Heart Centre, which
includes fetal and paediatric cardiology, and we have close links
with our paediatric cardiology colleagues.
Due to the success of paediatric heart surgery, around 90% of
children survive into adulthood and there are now more adults than
children in the UK with congenital heart disease. This area of
cardiology is therefore growing rapidly as a sub-specialisation for
both cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.
The Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) is the hub for the regional adult
congenital heart service for the South West and South Wales.
All invasive cardiology and cardiac surgery for congenital heart
disease is undertaken here with some outpatient clinical care
provided in partnership with district hospitals in the region.
Our team consists of four cardiologists, three cardiac surgeons,
an associate specialist cardiologist, a dedicated specialist
registrar in ACHD and two specialist nurses. In addition we work
closely with our specialist cardiac radiologists and team of
cardiac intensivists. In caring for our pregnant patients we have a
team of cardiologists, obstetricians, obstetric anaesthetists and
midwives.
We provide a 24/7 consultant-led service for inpatients and
outpatients. Outpatient care provides a one stop approach including
ECG, echocardiography, and consultation with the cardiologist and
specialist nurse.
We carry out 30 outreach clinic days per year in Barnstaple,
Torbay, Exeter, Swindon, Cheltenham, Truro and Taunton.
