Cardiology

Our cardiology team care for adults with heart problems, whether that's in hospital as an inpatient, or during routine appointments to manage or diagnose heart conditions.

How the service works

Routine appointments

If you've been referred to us by your GP, you'll be invited to an appointment with us where a member of the cardiology team will assess you.

The staff caring for you will introduce themselves and explain the purpose of your appointment. You are welcome to bring a family member or close friend for support.

If you need to take any special steps before your test, such as stopping medication, you will be informed in advance.

You may have some tests, which could include:

a cardiac CT coronary angiography (a detailed 3D scan)
an echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart)
a coronary angiogram (a type of X-ray used to examine blood vessels within the heart)
an ambulatory monitor (an ECG recorder that you take home for a set period of time)
a blood pressure monitor (a monitor that is attached to you for a day that you take home with you)

Receiving your results

If your test was requested by a doctor, you will receive your results in writing from the person who ordered it. This may be your hospital consultant or your GP.
If you have attended a clinic appointment with a consultant or one of our specialist nurses, you will receive a letter summarising your visit, including your diagnosis and management plan.

You may then have a further follow-up appointment, a procedure or you may be discharged back to your GP if we're happy that any condition is being managed appropriately. You may also be added to our Patient Initiated Follow-up (PIFU) waiting list, which means you can book a follow‑up appointment when you need one, rather than coming in routinely.

Our heart failure team

Heart failure is when your heart is not pumping blood as well as it should. We have a team of specialist nurses and doctors to support you if you've been diagnosed with heart failure, to help you manage your condition as well as possible.

This includes supporting you if your symptoms become hard to manage, if you need access to counselling, or to assess your suitability for different treatments and therapies. They're also there to provide any lifestyle advice which may help you manage your symptoms.

The specialist nurse team see patients on the cardiac ward, at follow-up appointments at the hospital, or at community clinic locations across Bolton. We also offer phone appointments depending on the nature of the consultation, and home visits for those who are housebound.

We also provide:

An 8-week heart failure rehabilitation programme
Monthly health and social support drop ins – first Friday of each month, 2-4pm, Bolton Hospice Wellbeing Hub

Cardiac Investigation Unit

Our Cardiac Physiology Team carries out a wide range of heart tests to help diagnose symptoms such as breathlessness, chest discomfort, blackouts, and palpitations.

Some tests are direct access, meaning your GP requests them and will share the results with you. These include:

24‑hour blood pressure monitors
ECGs, which record your heart rhythm
Echocardiograms for investigating heart murmurs

Other tests take place in one‑stop clinics, where you have the test and then see a cardiology specialist the same day. These clinics are used when your GP suspects new angina or heart failure. Tests include:

Echocardiograms, performed by physiologists to assess heart valves and heart muscle. You may also have a stress echocardiogram, carried out by both a physiologist and a consultant to assess angina.
Cardiac monitors for investigating palpitations. These are fitted by physiologists and worn at home for 24 hours up to 14 days, depending on how often symptoms occur.
Exercise tests to investigate chest pain or palpitations.
Tilt tests to help diagnose blackouts.

Our specialist pacing physiologists also run pacemaker and defibrillator follow‑up clinics, checking battery life and ensuring your device is programmed correctly. Many patients with defibrillators, complex pacemakers, or injectable loop recorders (used for investigating blackouts and infrequent palpitations) are monitored using remote follow‑up technology.

Pacing suite

Our hospital has a dedicated pacing suite where specialist device consultants implant pacemakers and carry out a range of heart rhythm procedures.

You may need a pacemaker if your heart beats too slowly, pauses, or doesn't keep a steady rhythm.

In our pacing theatres, we also implant defibrillators and advanced pacemakers designed to support patients with heart failure.

We perform trans‑oesophageal echocardiograms (TOEs) in the pacing theatre as day‑case procedures. These provide detailed ultrasound images of the heart and are carried out by our specialist imaging consultants.

Care in hospital

Our Coronary Care Unit (CCU) and cardiac ward (C1) are located next to each other at Royal Bolton Hospital, where we offer expert care for a wide range of heart conditions.

Our CCU is where we provide continuous monitoring and treatment for people who are seriously unwell with heart problems, for example, following a heart attack.

When your condition has stabilised, you may be moved to our cardiac ward or be able to go home.

Helping you recover – cardiac rehabilitation

After you've had a heart attack, heart surgery or PCI (stents), our cardiac rehabilitation team will support you with your next steps to recovery.

Our specialist team, which includes nurses and physiotherapists, will talk to you about your condition and what you need next to get back to everyday life.

Your programme may include:

Information and education to help you understand your condition and what to expect.
Support to make healthy lifestyle changes, including physical activity, diet and reducing risk factors.
A personalised exercise plan, guided by our cardiac physiotherapist.
Help to stop smoking, if this applies to you.
Emotional and psychological support, including help with anxiety or low mood.
Reviewing your medication, to make sure it is right for you and working well.

When your recovery is on track, we will work with your GP for the next steps in your long‑term care. We're with you every step of the way, to help you rebuild your strength and confidence after a heart problem.