The Cardiac Day Case Unit (CDCU) at the RD&E Hospital (Wonford) held a celebration event on Friday 27 September to mark seeing its 1,000th patient, six months after it opened.
Since opening, it has significantly increased the number of cardiac patients the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust can treat each day. It is already playing an important role in reducing waiting times for cardiology treatment across Devon, providing the very best service possible for patients and offering comfort, dignity and care.
Sarah Dale, Cardiology Clinical Matron, said, “The CDCU gives us protected space for our cardiology day case procedures and ensures our patients get the care they need when they need it. The feedback we’ve had from patients so far has been fantastic and we’re really proud to be able to provide that for them.”
The celebration event was an opportunity for colleagues who work in the unit and the wider cardiology department to celebrate the positive impact the CDCU is having. The event was also attended by those who helped support the project, which turned office space into a state-of-the-art facility that puts cardiac care right at the centre of the hospital.
James Chapman, CDCU Clinical Nurse Manager, said: “The number of patients we’ve been able to treat in the past six months has increased massively from what we could deliver previously over that same period. This is brilliant for our patients, as it means they’re getting the care they need in a timely manner, which is really important.”
The event also marked the fantastic fundraising achievements of the Trust’s cardiology team, who worked with Royal Devon Hospitals Charity to raise over £10,000 to help make sure the CDCU is as comfortable as possible for our patients. This included fundraising activities like bake sales, a fancy-dress sea dip, and a mammoth 42-mile walk from Barnstaple to Exeter. Pupils from the Exeter School who helped with fundraising also attended the event.
A plaque of recognition from Sam Higginson, the Royal Devon’s Chief Executive Officer, was unveiled as part of the celebrations, to mark his official opening of the unit in back in April, which he did alongside Professor Tim Briggs, National Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery at NHS England.
The plaque was unveiled by Pete Groves, who was treated by the Trust’s cardiology services 15 years ago, and has been volunteering within the department ever since.
The Devon-based sea shanty singers Mariners Away were also in attendance to sing a few songs for the event. Some of the group’s members have previously received life-saving care from the hospital’s cardiology unit, so they wanted to use the opportunity to show their appreciation to the cardiology care provided by the Royal Devon.