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Address:

Congenital Heart Unit
Cardiothoracic Centre
Freeman Hospital
High Heaton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE7 7DN


Phone:
0191 233 6161


Web Address:
http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk



Newcastle - Freeman Hospital (Profile)



The congenital cardiac unit is part of the Cardiothoracic Centre at the Freeman Hospital. With all facilities on one site we cater for patients with congenital heart disease from birth through to adulthood. We have a close working relationship with the Regional Fetal Medicine Unit and the neonatal, general paediatric and paediatric surgical units at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle (2 miles away, part of the Newcastle Hospitals Trust). In addition we work closely with the adult Cardiologists, especially in the area of arrhythmias and transplantation. The Children’s Ward, with 18 beds, has both indoor and outdoor play areas and a dedicated play specialist. Part of the ward is set aside for teenagers. Family accommodation is available on site. The unit gets strong support from the parent charity – CHUF (Children’s Heart Unit Fund).Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD, also known as GUCH – Grown Up Congenital Heart Patients) are admitted to the adjacent adult cardiology ward.The paediatric intensive care unit with 8 beds is managed by a team of paediatric intensive care specialists and the whole team of Surgeons, Cardiologists and Intensivists do a joint morning ward round. Following surgery, adults are admitted to the adult cardiac surgical intensive care unit.



Specialist Services
  • Heart and Lung transplantation: the unit is one of two centres in the UK (along with Great Ormond Street Hospital, London) undertaking transplantation in children and adults with congenital heart disease.
  • Mechanical assist devices: in conjunction with the transplant programme, the unit is involved in developing the use of artificial support pumps (VADs – ventricular assist devices) to support children with heart failure until a heart becomes available.
  • Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias): the unit is a national referral centre for children and adults with heart rhythm problems.
  • ECMO (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation): the unit is one of four centres in the UK providing the support for children with respiratory failure.
  • Interventional cardiology: the full range of interventional procedures is undertaken.
  • Obstetrics: a specialist clinic for women with congenital heart disease undertaking pregnancy.
  • Genetics of congenital heart disease: the Newcastle unit (Centre for Life) has an international reputation.
  • Respiratory paediatrics: many children with heart disease also have problems with their airways. We have a team of 3 specialist Respiratory Paediatricians who work closely with the heart team.





    Congenital Heart Disease Department website:

    http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/directorates/cardiothoracic-services/paediatrics

    Medical Staff

    The two specialist congenital heart Surgeons focus entirely on children and adults with congenital heart disease:



    Mr Leslie Hamilton
    Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
    (Appointed 1991)
    Mr Asif Hasan
    Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
    (Appointed 1995)


    CardiologistsClinical Speciality / Other Detail
    Dr Christopher WrenPaediatric cardiology arrhythmias
    Dr John O’SullivanPaediatric cardiology and adults (ACHD)
    Dr Milind ChaudhariPaediatric cardiology and adults (ACHD)
    Dr Richard KirkPaediatric cardiology and transplantation
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