Cardiac Patients

About Our Services

The Psychology team for cardiac services, sees people who have experienced a broad range of cardiac problems including ; heart attacks (myocardial infarctions), coronary artery bypass surgery, cardiac valve surgery, angina and heart failure. If, as a consequence of their cardiac condition individuals experience anxiety, depression or adjustment issues then a referral to psychology would be appropriate.

We work closely with other professionals in the cardiac services to help to provide holistic patient care.

We also participate in the cardiac rehabilitation and heart failure patient education and exercise classes, by providing information about the psychological impact of experiencing a cardiac condition.

The team include Clinical Psychologists, Health Psychologists and Counsellors who all have experience of working with patients with physical health problems.

Referrals

Outpatients are usually referred by a cardiac specialist nurse or by a doctor. Patients may be seen on the cardiac ward and they would then be referred by the ward team.
Individuals have also self referred either via the exercise/ education classes or if they have previously been seen in the service and have contacted the department for further treatment.

Reasons for Referrals

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Adjustment problems
• Sleep problems
• Illness management problems e.g. pacing, concordance with treatment
• Bereavement
• Complex treatment decisions

Available Treatments

Treatments are tailored to individual needs and include:-

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
• Pacing and goal setting
• Problem solving approaches
• Integrated therapy approaches
• Client centered counselling
• Systems–multi disciplinary team approaches

Where We Provide Services

Outpatients are seen in clinics at; St. Luke's Hospital, Westwood Park DTCM, Manningham Health center or Windhill Green surgery, depending on where the patient lives.
In addition we do provide home visits for patients who cannot attend outpatients due to their cardiac condition.

The rehabilitation and education sessions are in the Bradford Royal Infirmary, Westwood Park DTCM , Shipley Salvation Army Hall and Milton House, Barkerend.

Appointment Times

Outpatient appointments are available Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Hospital based clinics are available daily, community based clinics are available on different days e.g. Windhill is available on Wednesday afternoon. Appointments are an hour long. Patients may be seen for one session or could be seen for weekly/ fortnightly sessions for several months depending on need.

Waiting Times

Outpatients are usually seen within two weeks of referral. However due to the high demand for the service we do sometimes have a short waiting list, of a few weeks. When a waiting list is in place, urgent referrals are still seen within two weeks. We aim to respond to in-patient referrals within two days.

Further information can be obtained from:

Psychology Services

St Luke's Hospital

Bradford

BD5 0NA

Tel 01274 365176

Fax 01274 365177