Cardiac surgery figures double; AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS SAYS LOCAL NHS TRUST.

Byline: MARTIN WILLIAMS 

THE number of people having heart pacemakers and cardiac catheters fitted has almost doubled in the last two years.

The North Wales NHS Trust revealed there were 113 pacemakers fitted in the last year in north west Wales, compared to just 58 in 2006.

And in north east Wales there were 1,022 cardiac catheterisations - where a plastic catheter is passed into the chambers of the heart to monitor the organ - in the last 12 months, up from 950 in 2007 and 505 the previous year.

NHS bosses said the numbers have risen because hospitals in North Wales have increased their capacity to deal with cardiac patients, rather than an increase in heart problems.

Doug Hartill, from Abergele, who represents the North Wales branch of the Cardiomyopathy Association, said more help and support is now avail-ablfor people with heart problems.

A spokesman for the North Wales NHS Trust explained the figures, and a rise in primary admissions for cardiac patients in north east Wales - from 3,544 in 2006 to 4,173 in the last year. There was a slight rise in pacemaker insertions, from 276 in 2007 to 296 in 2008.

He said: "We have recently increased our capacity to perform pacemaker implantations which means that more of these procedures can be undertaken at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

"In addition, clinical practice has developed so more patients are now identified as being appropriate to receive pacemaker implantation."

Explaining a rise in cardiac catheters, consultant cardiologist Dr Chris Bellamy added: "Prior to March 2006 all cardiac catheters were undertaken for North Wales patients in Tertiary Cardiac Centres in England.

"In 2006, catheter laboratories opened in Chester and at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Over the last three years the service has developed, and this means that the majority of patients from Glan Clwyd and Bangor catchment areas have their catheter at Glan Clwyd, and those from Wrexham in the Chester Cath Lab, hence the increased number of procedures." . Doug be contacted 825904 or e-abergele67. freeserve. For more information www.cardiomyopathy. call freephone 0181

Mr Hartill is delighted heart patients have less distance to travel for surgery and advice, but said many are still in the dark when it comes to understanding the condition.

The 67-year-old suffers from the inherited heart condition cardiomyopathy. He avoided having a pacemaker fitted 10 years ago when diagnosed, and has since made a full recovery, but has had numerous operations and echo cardiograms along the way.

Cardiomyopathy is the biggest medical cause of sudden death in people aged under 35.

He said: "My increasingly poor health began to worry me.

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"The diagnosis was quite a shock."

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After being discharged Doug joined the Cardiomyopathy Association to find out more about his illness.

As well as becoming a ward volunteer at Glan Clwyd, he is planning to walk up Snowdon for the British Heart Foundation in August.

Doug added: "Being diagnosed can initially be quite devastating, but in most cases those affected can go on to live long and full lives."

[e-mail]. Doug can be contacted on 01745 825904 or e-mail [e-mail]. For more information visit: www.cardiomyopathy.org or call freephone 0800 0181 024

CAPTION(S):

Cardiomyopathy patient Doug Harthill from Abergele Picture: HADYN IBALL