UPMC Whitfield Hospital has announced that it is now offering new cardiology services that help diagnose and treat heart rhythm problems.
“For people in the South East, this means that they can now access these services without having to travel far from home, said a hospital spokesperson.
“This significant development marks a new chapter in cardiac care at UPMC Whitfield Hospital and provides benefits to both patients and their families, as well as their referring GPs.
“These new services, electrophysiology (EP) studies and catheter ablation, are especially useful for people with atrial fibrillation (AF), which is a common type of irregular heartbeat. According to the Irish Heart Foundation, 1 in 4 people over 50 are at risk for AF, which can lead to serious health issues like stroke and heart failure if not treated.
“At UPMC Whitfield Hospital, EP studies help doctors discover the cause of the irregular heartbeat. Catheter ablation is a treatment that corrects the problem. These procedures are both performed by expert cardiology and electrophysiologists, Dr. John O’Dea and Prof. Usama Boles, in the hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation lab.
Speaking about the extension of the cardiology service at the hospital, General Manager, Gwen Daniels said, “Delivering EP studies and catheter ablation means that patients can now receive specialised treatment for complex cardiac arrhythmias without the need to travel long distances. Access to advanced procedures here in Waterford ultimately means more timely and effective care.”
“Delivering state-of-the-art cardiac care within the local community shows UPMC’s unwavering commitment to ensuring residents of the South East have access to the highest quality medical care close to home. This initiative follows our recent €7.8 million investment in radiotherapy services.”
