Charity funding boosts community heart care in Pembrokeshire

Pictured: Louise Harris, Community Heart Failure Specialist Nurse, and Alision Ducket, Cardiac Rehabilitation Nurse Specialist, with one of the new ECG machines

Cardiac patients across Pembrokeshire will benefit from improved access to diagnostic equipment thanks to over £18,000 funding from Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The funding, which has been made possible by a generous legacy donation, has enabled the purchase of three new electrocardiogram (ECG) machines for use by the Community Heart Failure Team and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team in community settings across the county.

The ECG devices are being used during community clinics, rehabilitation sessions and home visits, supporting earlier detection of heart rhythm problems and other cardiac conditions. This is helping clinicians to make quicker clinical decisions, reduce unnecessary hospital attendances and provide care closer to patients’ homes.

Two of the machines are supporting the Community Heart Failure Team, providing geographical coverage across north and south Pembrokeshire, while the third is being used by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team to assess and monitor patients following heart attacks, cardiac surgery and during rehabilitation programmes.

The equipment is expected to benefit more than 480 patients each year, including approximately 131 people currently supported by the Community Heart Failure Team and around 350 patients seen annually by the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team.

Louise Harries, Community Heart Failure Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “These ECG machines will make a real difference to patients and staff. Having access to high‑quality ECG monitoring in community settings means we can assess patients more quickly and accurately during home visits and clinics, often preventing unnecessary hospital admissions.

“We are incredibly grateful for the kind legacy donation - it has delivered real benefits for cardiac patients across Pembrokeshire.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “We’re delighted to see this charitable funding having a positive impact on patient care in the community. Hywel Dda Health Charities funds items and services that go above and beyond core NHS provision, and we are very grateful for every donation we receive.”