World Heart Day raises the profile around the globe of heart related conditions. But what happens if you are facing a diagnosis of a heart condition? For Angela Anstey, a Bristol Community Health patient, this was the reality.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, Angela was already facing weeks of intensive hospital therapy, including chemotherapy. Within weeks, complications were found, and after some tests, Angela was diagnosed with heart failure.
"I was already very ill, and to face the diagnosis of heart failure on top of the cancer was devastating," said Angela. "At first, I was facing information overload from the hospital, and was sent home to try and understand it all."
Bristol Community Health is a not-for-profit social enterprise running over 35 community based services in the local area, one of these being the Heart Failure Service. As soon as Angela's diagnosis was confirmed, the heart failure lead nurse visited Angela to help her understand what she was facing.
"Our aim is to educate our patients on how to manage their condition and provide specialist support," said Sue Romaine, Heart Failure Specialist Nurse. "Heart failure can affect anyone - we see patients from 20 all the way to 90 years old. We optimise their medication and liaise with their GP and cardiologists to make sure they are on the best treatment plans for them."
With the support of the Heart Failure Service to stabilise her condition with medication and education around symptom management, and the use of Telehealth, a handheld electronic device which supports patients to manage their condition at home, Angela has been able to get on with her life, despite her diagnoses.
"I can now manage my health condition from home with the use of Telehealth, which takes my important health readings and alerts me if something is abnormal," comments Angela. "The big difference with this service is the continuous high level of healthcare. I always feel reassured by them, and am able to lead more of a normal life."
"Angela is one of the most inspirational patients I have ever met," said Bev Mumford, the service lead who supported Angela throughout her time with the Heart Failure Service. "She is so determined to not let her diagnosis stop her from carrying on with her life."
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