Heart team nationally recognised for providing best care for patients
A team based at the world-renowned Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital, have been recognised by an official body for the high-quality care they provide to patients.
The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), which represents clinical echocardiography professionals, have accredited the echocardiology, or ‘echo’, department, for their success in showing high quality standards in their images and reports, hygiene, patient comfort and safety, and using modern, well-maintained equipment.
This accreditation means the team are providing the best possible standard of care and training.
Every year the team carries out around 14,000 standard and 600 highly specialist echocardiograms, which use ultrasound to determine the size and shape of a patient’s heart and how it functions.
Margaret Long, Professional Service Manager for cardiac physiology said: "This accreditation means that patients can be reassured that they are being cared for in a nationally recognised department which shows we have a well-organised, safe and high-performing team.
“Achieving this has been a collective effort and dedication involving many staff from physiology, Thames ward and consultant cardiologists.”
The department continues to support cardiac physiology trainees and medical staff to attain their own individual accreditation and help develop their professional skills.