Recommendations for London NHS centres for heart arrhythmia

[HowMyHeartSings]

I have just moved to London & have ongoing heart arrhythmias that I’d like medical advice on. I wondered I’d anyone could kindly give me advice on the best NHS centre to be referred to in London? I was diagnosed with paroxysmal long RP atrial tachycardia in 2019 and I’m now 53 years old. I am currently on no medication but my arrythmia is occasionally obtrusive. Thanks so much for your help: it’s very much appreciated.

[JulianM]

Obviously, the first step is to get registered with a GP and if they're experienced and have referred patients with rhythm issues, discuss this with them.

I'm based in South East London and the basic choice here is between King's and Guy's/St Thomas's - which work closely together. The Royal Brompton is now part of the GSTT and the plan is to integrate the two as a contender for London's leading heart centre. I have seen cardiologists at King's and at St Thomas's and am now with GSTT but my issues come within the 'Adult Congenital Heart Disease' framework and don't involve arrhythmias.

One of my family has been treated for heart rhythm issues at King's with an implanted device and is clearly happy with the treatment she's received there.

There are obviously other major centres in London: I imagine that Bart's would strongly contest any claim by GSTT to be the leading cardiology team. I paid them a fleeting visit for a cardiac MRI scan and their facilities are amazing. I've also known a couple of people who had emergency surgery there and ... they're world class.

I've probably done great injustice to several others - UCLH, in particular, and should also mention St George's, which is a major centre in South London and the place where my condition was first diagnosed, though perhaps the fact I had a cardiac MRA at Bart's (and have had my follow-up aortic MRA at St Thomas's) says something about the pecking order.

[HowMyHeartSings in reply to JulianM]

Thank you so much that’s incredibly helpful & much appreciated

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to JulianM]

"I imagine that Bart's would strongly contest any claim by GSTT to be the leading cardiology team."

I expect Barts would! 😉

The Royal Free and Barts are heart attack centres, while UCLH is an acute stroke centre.

[JulianM in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you for that! I still have so much to learn about the landscape of these specialisms; I do think better signposting would help everyone, patients and GPs alike. My own focus is on trying to understand aortic medicine and genetic connective tissue disorders and where they are heading. There's massive evidence that being treated in specialist centres, especially when it comes to cardiothoracic surgery, is key to improving outcomes. I once made the naive mistake of imagining that an aortic valve specialist would be interested in ascending aortic aneurysms, seeing as one problem frequently gives rise to the other, but oh no! Completely different fields. Though they do occasionally talk to each other. And as for stroke, I'd have thought the NHNN at Queen's Square, but obviously that's a whole different discussion and not for me.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to JulianM]

'I do think better signposting would help everyone, patients and GPs alike'

I couldn't agree more!

Sometimes when you have a rare condition you need to go hunting for the right Cardiologist.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

I am in north London.

I have over the years been seen by specialists at St George's hospital, St Thomas's and the Royal Brompton.

In north London there is Barts, University College Hospital, Northwick Park and The Royal Free hospital.

Then there is St Mary's Paddington and Hammersmith to the west.

I have a really good Cardiologist at the Royal Free where I go for my inpatient care. I live with a rare type of angina.

Most of the hospitals in London are very good.

As others have said your GP is probably the best person to ask.

[HowMyHeartSings in reply to Milkfairy]

Thank you so much

[Alison_L]

I'm in South London (LB Merton) and was automatically blue lighted to St George's after my initial discharge from Croydon following my HA. My mother (in LB Lambeth) is under Kings. It rather depends whereabouts in London you are.