The Network covers all of Greater Manchester and Central & Eastern Cheshire.
Clinical Working Groups
The Greater Manchester & Cheshire Cardiac and Stroke Network have a work programme for 2008 – 2011 which has driven the formation of numerous professional cardiac working groups. These groups have a Clinical Lead and a Network Lead and members include clinical and managerial professionals from across the Network. The cardiac clinical working groups include:
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Development Group
Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Group
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Development Group
Background
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) commonly known as coronary angioplasty or simply angioplasty, is a therapeutic procedure used to treat narrowed coronary arteries of the heart commonly found in coronary heart disease. Currently, the national average number of PCIs performed is 1,400 per million population (pmp) and at present Greater Manchester and Cheshire is below the recommended rates.
Aim
The aim of this group is to develop percutaneous coronary intervention services for cardiac patients and in particular:
Meet the national average for procedures of 1,400 pmp
Maintain complex interventions at tertiary centres
Implement increased local service provision in Sector laboratories
Develop an integrated approach to decision making
Membership
Membership is made up of cardiologists and managers from across the Network conurbation.
Frequency of Meetings
Every 4 months.
Network Lead
Roger Gamon
Functional Imaging Group
Background
The imaging strategy group has been established for some time looking at the issues associated with imaging across the Network. Functional imaging has been identified as a high priority in the Cardiac Strategy. It is therefore thought to be beneficial to broaden the membership of the group to address these issues.
Aim
The group will work on the priorities identified in the Cardiac Strategy and support the development of services across the Network. These priorities are:
To redesign the angina pathway with cardiac imaging having a central role
To ensure cardiac imaging to be available at all acute hospital sites
Membership
The membership of the group includes representation from tertiary, secondary and primary care from organisations across the Network. Representatives include clinicians, managers, patients and commissioners.
Frequency of Meetings
As and when required.
Network Lead
Karen Gibbons
Heart Failure Group
Background
Heart failure is a condition in which the pumping action of the heart is inadequate. It can result in the accumulation of fluid in the body and/or congestion of the lungs. The condition demands active clinical disease management and effective signposting to appropriate interventions such as pacing and cardiac surgery.
Aim
The Network aims to maximise health and quality of life in the person living with heart failure; recognising that heart failure is a terminal condition for many. All aspects of heart failure services, including surgical options and palliative care require consideration. The main priority for this group is to:
Plan and implement evidence based services for the population of Greater Manchester and Cheshire
Maintain accurate heart failure registers to facilitate active management
Expand echocardiography services
Investment in IT infrastructure to support the transfer of images
Develop heart failure clinics to NICE guideline standards
Membership
The membership of the group includes representation from tertiary, secondary and primary care from organisations across the Network. Representatives include clinicians, managers, patients and commissioners.
Frequency of Meetings
As and when required.
Network Lead
Joanne Langton
back to topAdults with Congenital Heart Disease Group
Background
Financial investment has been highlighted in the 2008/2009 North West Specialised Commissioning Plan with the view to implement a new service model across the Network. This will lead to a standardised approach to the care and management of adults with congenital heart disease. Greater Manchester and Cheshire, Cheshire and Merseyside plus Lancashire and South Cumbria Networks are jointly overseeing the delivery of coordinated developments affecting North West England, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Aim
The main objective for the Implementation Group (IG) is to support the implementation of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Service as set out within the DH guidance (May2005) based on clinical evidence and the expertise and experience of clinicians. The purpose of the IG is to implement the agreed model of care (hub and spoke model) for a specialist ACHD service within North West England and North Wales (including the Isle of Man population) within resources made available by specialist commissioners. The main priorities for this group are to:
Oversee the implementation of the strategy for a specialist Adult with Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) service within North West England and North Wales within resources made available by commissioners
Develop capacity and workforce requirements across the designated ACHD specialist hub and spoke centres
Develop and implement improved care pathways, protocols and guidelines for the management of ACHD patients
Develop a Communication Strategy with an initial focus on improved delivery of patient information
Establish an evaluation and audit framework to establish a baseline for demand and provision of ACHD care
Membership
The membership of the group includes representation from tertiary, secondary and primary care from organisations across the Network. Representatives include clinicians, managers, patients and commissioners.
Frequency of Meetings
Every 2 months and as and when required.
Network Lead
Janet Ratcliffe/Angie Haines
Heart Rhythm Management Group
Aim
The focus for this group is upon education and to ensure that good and bad practice is shared. The priority areas are to:
Provide a forum for heart rhythm related issues and debates
Facilitate increase service provision
Ensure equity in service provision and access
Membership
The membership of the group includes clinicians, managers, patients and commissioners.
Frequency of Meetings
Twice a year, with smaller groups as and when required.
Network Lead
Karen Gibbons
Cardiac Rehabilitation Group
Aim
The aim of the group is to support the priority areas within cardiac rehabilitation identified in the Cardiac Strategy. These priority areas are to:
Expand cardiac rehabilitation access for all pathways; chest pain, breathlessness and palpitations
Promote a menu based approach to cardiac rehabilitation service
Create clearer identification and earmarking of funding
The group will then feed back progress to the cardiac rehabilitation practitioners at the two conferences facilitated by the Network.
Membership
Membership is made up of volunteers from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Practitioners Forum. It was agreed that there should be no more than one member per organisation (with the exception of Pennine Acute who have 2 members due to the size of the organisation).
Frequency of Meetings
Eveny 2 months.
Network Lead
Karen Gibbons
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