Putting wellbeing at the heart of cardiac care
Psychological support is now recognised as a vital part of the cardiac patient journey, helping people manage the emotional impact that accompanies life-changing diagnoses and treatments.
But, until 2017 there was no provision of psychological services for cardiac patients, families, or staff at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Building a new service
In July 2017, consultant clinical psychologist, Vicky Kelly, was asked to join St Bartholomew’s Hospital - initially from Cardiac Services at Great Ormond Street Hospital - to scope the psychological needs of our congenital cardiology patients.
After a few months, other teams across the Heart Centre saw the benefit the service was providing for patients and requested psychological support for their own areas. This included Critical Care, the Heart Attack Centre, Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions, Electrophysiology, Arrhythmia, and Heart Failure.
Growing a service that patients have asked for
Speaking about the development of the service, consultant clinical psychologist, Vicky Kelly, says:
We initially scoped the need, designed a service structure, worked up a business case, and applied to the Trust and Barts Charity for funding. By the time our larger grant was approved in 2020, our team had grown to four part-time psychologists. We had developed trusting relationships with staff during this time, meaning we were well placed to support all hospital staff as well as Covid inpatients during the pandemic. By the end of 2021, we were fully established with a team of eight psychologists providing comprehensive psychological services into the Heart Centre.
We provide a range of services including direct 1:1 therapy and workshops which aim to help patients connect over similar experiences. These workshops have been highly valued by patients and families and help reduce the isolation that having a heart condition can cause.
In 2023, we introduced art therapy, helping us diversify our provision. Art therapy is especially good for people who find talking therapy difficult to engage with.
We also provide a range of support structures for the staff who look after our patients, including debriefs following a critical incident and focused reflective consultation around topics impacting staff wellbeing, including death and dying, effective team working, and leadership.
Psychologically informed care is preventative and important for physical recovery and psychological wellbeing. This is why we work at a regional and national level to promote this way of caring for cardiac patients and their families.
We have recently introduced a self-referral pathway to improve access to psychological support, allowing patients to seek care directly without waiting for a referral. We are also working with respiratory colleagues to develop psychological services for the Thorax Centre to address unmet need.
A patient’s perspective: what it feels like to be supported
One patient, who received cardiac care at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, discussed their experience:
I’m truly appreciative of all the support the team has given me. Their guidance and encouragement made a meaningful difference, helping me grow through some of my struggles and anxiety. Having access to therapy made my subsequent heart-transplant experience far less frightening, and the team’s support and resources ensured I never had to face it alone.
I understand that my anxiety won’t simply disappear, but therapy has helped me learn how to manage it and calm myself when it becomes overwhelming, and for that I thank the team.
I hope more support services become available for cardiac patients to receive the same level of care and guidance that made such a difference for me.
Clinicians say ‘psychological care matters’
Consultant Cardiologist, Konstantinos Savvatis, reflects on the importance of the service:
Psychological Services are now an integral part of the care we provide, and they have helped both patients and their families manage their condition and its complications. It is only with the help of our excellent and highly trained psychological specialists that we can make a significant difference.
If you are a patient and you find you are struggling with your diagnosis, or any part of the treatment you’re receiving, I cannot recommend engaging with psychological services enough.
A future shaped by holistic, compassionate care
The team continues to expand its work to ensure every cardiac patient receives the emotional, psychological, and holistic support they need alongside world-class medical care.
Patients can get in touch with us and find out if our service is right for them by calling 020 3765 8807, or emailing bartshealth.BHCPsychologicalServices@nhs.net.