Specialist nurses helping heart surgery patients to recover more quickly
Patients receiving heart care are spending less time in hospital thanks to the work of two specialist nurses.
Danielle Odumanye and Jade Messer have been appointed as Cardiothoracic Nurse Specialists at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC), part of the Trust, who have helped patients to have a better experience when they undergo a heart procedure.
The duo work closely with consultants, surgical fellows, and the ward team to evaluate each patient’s condition, and make sure that those who need heart surgeries are prepared ahead of surgery and are physically and mentally fit for their procedure. This puts patients at ease, supports their recovery afterwards, and has led to their average stay in hospital reduced from nine days to six days.
Speaking ahead of World Heart Day on 29 September, Jade said: “I am really proud of the progress we have made in a year within this new role.
“I think the patients have really benefitted from having a continuity of care and having someone they know throughout the whole process, and this really helps to instil trust and confidence in the service. We are expanding our team with two secondment posts later this year which is very exciting and will help us develop our service further.”
The two nurses have also started to trial a new process for patients who receive heart procedures where they are admitted to the hospital the same day of their surgery, instead of being admitted the day before.
They have also been looking into a new technology, using a smartphone app that allows them to check surgical wounds remotely and monitor recovery after a procedure. Once implemented, patients will be able to send photos of their wounds to the nurses, saving them a trip to hospital and helping to identify any issues early.