How Heart Problems Affect Employees and Employers in the UK

Impact on Employees

1. Physical health and ability to work

Heart conditions (such as heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, or recovery after a hea rt attack) can cause:

• Fatigue and reduced stamina
• Breathlessness
• Chest discomfort
• Dizziness or palpitations

These symptoms may affect:

• Long working hours
• Physically demanding roles
• Shift work or night shifts

2. Mental health and confidence

3. Sickness absence and recovery time

4. Financial and job security concerns

5. Legal rights and protections

Impact on Employers

1. Increased sickness absence

2. Productivity and performance

3. Legal and compliance responsibilities

4. Cost implications

5. Retention of experienced staff

How Employers Can Support Employees with Heart Conditions

1. Reasonable workplace adjustments

2. Occupational health and wellbeing support

3. Clear communication and reassurance

4. Promoting heart-healthy workplaces

Benefits of Supporting Heart Health at Work

UK Support and Guidance

Typical New Admission Procedure for Heart Patients in the NHS (UK)

1. Routes of Admission

Heart patients are usually admitted to hospital through one of three routes:

Emergency admission

• Via 999 ambulance or A&E
• Common reasons:
  • Chest pain / suspected heart attack
  • Severe breathlessness
  • Collapse or fainting
  • Dangerous arrhythmias

This is the fastest and highest-priority pathway.

Urgent GP or clinic referral

GP, out-of-hours service, or cardiology clinic refers the patient Used for:

• Worsening heart failure
• Unstable angina
• Rapid arrhythmias

Patients may be admitted directly to a cardiology ward, bypassing A&E.

Planned (elective) admission

For scheduled procedures or investigations such as:

• Angiography
• Stent insertion
• Pacemaker implantation
• Heart surgery

Patients usually receive a pre-admission assessment beforehand.

2. Initial Assessment on Arrival

3. Early Investigations

4. Triage and Risk Stratification

5. Admission to Ward or Cardiac Unit

6. Specialist Cardiology Review

7. Treatment Initiation

8. Ongoing Monitoring and Tests

9. Multidisciplinary Team Involvement

10. Patient Education and Discharge Planning

11. Discharge or Transfer

Major NHS Heart Care Providers in London

Specialist Heart Centres
These hospitals are nationally recognised for comprehensive, advanced cardiac care.

Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospital – One of the UK’s largest specialist heart and lung centres, offering a full range of cardiology and cardiac surgery services. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust

Barts Heart Centre (based at St Bartholomew’s Hospital) – A major London heart centre providing complex interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery; part of Barts Health NHS Trust with facilities at The Royal London Hospital and other sites. Barts Health NHS Trust

Major NHS Hospital Trusts with Cardiology Services
These hospitals provide wide-ranging heart care (diagnosis, treatment, inpatient and outpatient services).
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Cardiology services in South London including diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. King's College Hospital
Other NHS Heart Care Departments

Barts Heart Centre (Barts Health NHS Trust)

Includes: St Bartholomew’s, The Royal London, Newham, Whipps Cross hospitals — specialist cardiac centre for coronary disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, devices, imaging and surgery.
Phone (Cardiology Appointments): 0203 480 4602
Interventional Cardiology: 0203 765 8638
Electrophysiology: 0208 154 9223
Referral: GP referral via NHS e-Referral Service (Choose & Book/e-RS); consultant-to-consultant referrals available. Barts Health NHS Trust
Web: https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/barts-heart-centre Barts Health NHS Trust

Royal Free London (Cardiology – Royal Free, Barnet, Chase Farm, Edgware)

Services: Inpatient and outpatient cardiology, diagnostics (ECG/echo/monitoring) and referrals for heart problems.
Patient Enquiries & GP Referrals: 020 3758 2069 (choose Cardiology option)
Direct GP Referral (Diagnostics): rf-tr.cardiology-directaccess@nhs.net
Results/Enquiries: rf-tr.cardiologyresultrequests@nhs.net
Cardiology Admin: rf-tr.cardiologyadmin@nhs.net
Web/Details: see trust cardiology diagnostics page (Royal Free London). NCL ICB General Practice Website

St George’s Hospital (Cardiology)

University College London Hospitals (UCLH) – Cardiology Outpatients

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust — Cardiology

Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust – Cardiology (Lewisham)

Chelsea and Westminster / West Middlesex (Cardiology)

Homerton University Hospital – Cardiology

Major Private Heart care Providers and Cardiology Clinics in London, UK

Here’s a compiled list of major private heart care providers and cardiology clinics in London, UK — including hospitals, specialist cardiology centres, and independent private cardiologists. These offer consultations, diagnostics, and heart care services on a private basis (self-pay or via health insurance) londoncardiacclinic.co.uk

Private Hospitals with Heart Care Services

(Often with full cardiology departments or collaboration with private cardiologists)

London Bridge Hospital

A major private hospital offering cardiology and cardiac diagnostics. Specialists provide consultations and tests as part of comprehensive heart care. topdoctors.co.uk

The Cardiac Clinic

A dedicated cardiology service based at London Bridge Hospital with a team of cardiologists providing diagnostics and personalised treatments. HCA Healthcare UK

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