A new service that makes it quicker and easier to find out if someone is suffering from a heart condition is being rolled out across Powys.

It involves mobile heart monitoring equipment coordinated by Powys Teaching Health Board as part of its new Community Cardiology Service.

Some GP practices are providing the new tool, which helps pick up signs of arrhythmia – which is a problem with the rate of rhythm of the heartbeat – to patients, and has been supported using start up funding from the Welsh Government.

The officer leading the project, Cath Rowlands, who is a costing and value finance business partner at the health board, has personal experience with arrhythmia.

She said: “Personally, I waited 15 years for a diagnosis as whenever I went to see a GP my heart rate had settled but I knew something was wrong.

"I knew I shouldn’t have a 220bpm heart rate when I was sitting down watching TV.”

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Explaining the new system Ms Rowlands said: “This means that the GP, or a nurse within the practice, can show the patient how to monitor their own heartbeat at home and then clinical staff can then see clear records of where arrhythmia occurs within weeks.”

Based on the data from the monitors, patients will either be treated at their GP practice, referred to the Community Cardiology Service for an echocardiogram, or to specialists if needed.

For patients that have taken part in the scheme the health board estimate that the average wait for a diagnosis reduced from 27 weeks to three weeks.

Health benefits aside, the project also has economical and environmental advantages for patients.

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Over the past year, it is estimated to have saved patients approximately £7,000 in travel costs, a total of 372 hours spent travelling, and reported reduced the resultant carbon emissions by some 3.54 tonnes.

GP practises that have responded to the invitation to take part have been working with the health board.

However, they are keen to work with all practises in the area.

Dr Ajith Kartha from Llanfyllin Medical Centre said: “This is a great initiative from the local health board.

“The pilot has shown encouraging results with referral reduction, better quality referrals and better patient outcomes.

“That a lot of cardiac problems can be dealt with in the community is brilliant. A great well done to Cath and Dr Mel Plant for their efforts in getting this project up and running.”