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Cardiac (heart) services

Images showing some of the cardiology services across East Kent Hospitals

At East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust we diagnose and treat a full range of heart disorders, including:

  • coronary artery disease

  • cardiac arrhythmias

  • cardiac failure

  • stable angina

  • heart attack

  • unstable angina

  • valvulvar heart disease

  • cardiomyopathies

  • syncope

  • black-outs.

We also insert pacemakers and implantable devices.

Procedures and tests we can offer

  • Trans-oesophageal echocardiogram - a procedure to assess the structure of the heart.

  • Cardioversion - a procedure to correct heart rhythms.

  • Angiography - used to diagnose the efficiency of the blood supply to the heart.

  • Angioplasty - a procedure to treat narrowing of the arteries surrounding the heart (currently available at William Harvey Hospital only).

Referral to our hospitals

Your GP can refer you to our heart centres and heart specialists if he or she is concerned you may have a problem with you heart.

Outpatient request for cardiac investigation

Request for echocardiogram

If you suspect you are experiencing a heart attack, please ACT. Call an ambulance - the quicker you get to hospital, the quicker we can treat you and the more effective your treatment will be.

Find out more about heart attacks and their treatment.

We have invested heavily in our heart services over recent years to bring you state-of-the-art facilities for heart procedures at the East Kent Cardiac Catheter Suite (William Harvey Hospital, Ashford) and the Heart Centre (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate).

Outpatient heart services

Outpatient services (services that do not require a stay in hospital, e.g. a consultation with your doctor or tests) are available at:

We provide an extensive cardiac rehabilitation programme for people who have suffered heart attacks or have had any surgery on the heart.
David Hargroves
Name
Hargroves, Dr David
Job title
Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead for Stroke Medicine at EKHUFT
Specialty
Stroke Medicine, Health Care of Older People
Special interests
Thrombolysis for acute Ischaemic stroke, Hyper Acute Stroke Care, Primary Intra Cerebral Haemorrhage.
Education and career history
Dr David Hargroves MB BSc (Hons), MSc FRCP, Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead for Stroke Medicine, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, and South East Coast Strategic Clinical Network and Senate. 
 
Dr David Hargroves graduated from University College London MB BSc (Hons) in 1996.  His postgraduate training was in London undertaking designated stroke fellowship training at St Helier's and St George's Hospitals; gaining his Masters from Kings College London with a research thesis titled 'Effects of position upon cerebral oxygenation in the acute phase post stroke using Near Infrared Spectroscopy'.   
 
He has been a consultant for over 10 years in East Kent and Clinical Lead for Stroke Medicine for the last 9 years.  He was appointed Clinical Lead for the Strategic Health Authority in October 2010 and now to the South East Coast Strategic Clinical Network and Senate 2013. 
 
The East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (EKHUFT) Stroke Service is in the top quartile of services in the country, and uses one of the country’s first examples of horizontal stroke telemedicine, with currently >25% of patients receiving IV thrombolysis, and one of the largest cohorts of patients treated with unknown time of onset (SUTO / wake up stroke) using CT perfusion in the country. 
 
David has personnally assessed, imaged and treated over 3000 pateints with transient neuological defecit with same day MRI / CEMRA and a similar number of patients with persistant neurological defecit. He chairs the IV Stroke Thrombolysis governance meeting and has reviewed the clinical histories and neuroradiology for over 1200 cases treated in East Kent.  Dr Foster and Care Quality Commission (CQC) recently ranked it the top performing stroke service in the country and in a recent round of SSNAP the WHH hospital achieved the highest overall rating level A for both patient and team scores. 
 
He has a keen research interest and has acted as local guarantor to stroke related publications submitted from East Kent for the last 8 years.  He has been local Principal Investigator for over 10 international clinical trials.  He has a particular research interest in: Use of advanced imaging in hyper acute stroke care using CT Perfusion for patients with Stroke of Unknown time of onset (SUTO) and MRI / CEMRA for transient neurological deficit; Obstructive Sleep apnea and neurovascular disease; Telemedicine use in Stroke care and medication compliance and adherence in patients with neurovascular disease. 
 
David was elected to the British Association of Stroke Physicians (BASP) Education & Training Board in October 2011 and Chaired this group from December 2013 until 2017, and remains co-opted and an active member. 
 
David has recently been appointed to the role of senior clinical advisor to the NHSI GIRFT programme to advise upon stroke services nationwide. 
 
David is winner of the prestigious 2017 Life After Stroke Award for Professional Excellence. 
 
Location
William Harvey Hospital 
Contact details
Judith Richards judithrichards2@nhs.net 01233616214

Information about our hospitals

Please click the links below for lots of information about visiting our hospitals (including travel and parking):

*Please note that the Cardiology unit at Kent and Canterbury Hospital has moved and is now opposite Ambulatory Care. Please ask a member of staff for directions.

East Kent Cardiac Catheter Suite (William Harvey Hospital)

  • Tel: 01233 616830

The Heart Centre (Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital)

  • Tel: 01843 235042