Heartless cut could see end of cardiac centre
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FEARS about future support for Highland heart patients have been raised by a volunteer group who say a city rehab centre’s days are numbered.
Inverness Bravehearts was formed in 2001 to support people who have suffered a heart attack or other cardiac problem.
Virtually all of its members will have been through rehab services courtesy of the Highland Heartbeat Centre based at Raigmore Hospital which was created after a mammoth public fundraising campaign backed at the time by the Highland News.
It raised more than £750,000 from public donations with the rest of the £1.1 million total coming from the British Heart Foundation before the centre was officially opened in 2005.
Since then it has helped hundreds of patients, many of whom then go on to join Inverness Bravehearts for further support in the form of regular exercise and simply being able to talk to people who have been through a similar experience.
Bravehearts spokesman Frank Strachan said on that basis they were shocked to hear that the health board plans to scrap the centre and replace it with more community-based care.
"Our main concern is the way this seems to be being railroaded through – more than £750,000 of the public’s money to create the centre and yet NHS Highland have kept this all every quiet," he said.
"The centre is something our members have benefited directly from and we think it’s very important to have something central like that that can bring people together."
Mr Strachan suffered a heart attack seven years ago and said the support he received from the centre was invaluable.
"I was one of those people who was quite sceptical about the idea of a rehab, I just didn’t think it was for me," he said.
"Seven years later and here I am telling people about how great it is and a lot of that is not just about exercise and physiotherapy.
"It’s about the chance to meet like-minded people, because unless you go through it you can’t really understand how much of an impact having a heart attack can have on you, not just physically but mentally as well in the way it impacts on your confidence.
"I was speaking to a lady recently who said if it wasn’t for the rehab and our group she probably wouldn’t leave the house.
"That support is what we fear will be lost if the centre closes."
NHS Highland, however, say the service the centre currently provides is being "redesigned" rather than stopped completely.
It is understood current plans have the space used by the centre earmarked for enhanced support for frail elderly patients.
Professor Steve Leslie, consultant cardiologist at NHS Highland, said: "We are looking at options and that may involve some elements of the service moving because there are some services which would be better provided in the community or non-acute hospital setting, such as physiotherapy."
He added: "We are in contact with Bravehearts to discuss with them how we can have the best cardiac rehabilitation service possible for the people of the Highlands."
A study carried out into cardiac rehab across the country last year found significant differences in the level of service available in different parts of the Highlands.
An NHS Highland briefing note talks of a "pressing need" to redesign rehab to "make sure it is equitable and planned around future needs".
NHS Highland chairman David Alston apologised for what he called "some very poor communication" around the project for effected staff and service users as well as the wider public, but added: "We simply want to bring support closer to people throughout the Highlands."
The briefing paper states there is "no planned reduction" in the cardiac rehab service but acknowledged there was no agreed "best location" for a replacement to the centre yet.
Inverness Bravehearts say they don’t want to see any changes until plans for exactly what will replace it have been fully worked up.
Mr Strachan said: "That building should not be used for anything else until the service can be provided at least as well, if not better, elsewhere than it can be delivered in the heartbeat centre, or the people of Highland who raised that money are being cheated.
"Where will those premises be? The staff and service should not have to move out until those premises are identified and confirmed."
Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, was contacted by Inverness Bravehearts about its concerns and has been working on its behalf to find out more.
"This is, undoubtedly, a difficult time financially for NHS Highland – reviews and redesigns of services have been forced upon it," she said.
"However it is vitally important that the quality and range of service is retained.
"The Highland Heartbeat Centre, which was built after a mammoth public fundraising campaign, has done a magnificent job in helping to look after people with heart problems.
"Closing it down should only be considered when a better service can be delivered by other means."
NHS Highland was unable to state how much funding is currently dedicated to the Highland Heartbeat Centre or what budget is planned for replacement services.
