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Arrhythmia Alliance E-Bulletin |
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“Promoting better understanding, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for individuals with cardiac arrhythmia” |
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May 2007 |
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Do you work with arrhythmia patients? |
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April 2007 |
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Forthcoming Events |
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Have you joined our dedicated secure site? If you haven't already registered you may want to do so now. This dedicated new service for all healthcare professionals working with arrhythmia patients is proving very popular and we shall continue to improve the content and provide you with helpful information as well as the latest news and protocols etc. Currently this information includes Care Pathways, Job Descriptions, Guidelines on How to Establish Rapid Access Clinics, Business Case Templates, Patient Information Literature (pdf), De-activation of ICD at end of life, presentations from our Regional Meetings and Annual Congress (pdf), a Members' Forum for exchanging information, regular updates from the DoH on the implementation of the NSF Chapter 8 and much more… If you would like to share information with your colleagues we would be happy to add to this service To register visit http://www.arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk/html/medical_area.html We look forward to welcoming you a member. |
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Welcome to our e-bulletin where you can read about the latest research into heart rhythm disorders, useful heart information sources, dates for your diary and more. |
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Registered Charity No. 1107496 |
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Email: info@arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk Address: PO BOX 3697, |
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Contact us |
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Medical News |
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The Business Committee for the forthcoming Heart Rhythm Congress (29th – 31st October) is pleased to invite you, on behalf of our colleagues, to attend the 2007 congress which, this year, is to be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel. We have endeavoured to put together an exciting agenda which we hope you will thoroughly enjoy. Features include state of the art reviews of clinical practice and technologies, and interactive teaching sessions. The congress will host A-A sessions and HRUK courses in pacing, ICD and CRT, and an EP Masterclass, plus an advanced implantable devices course. Many presentations and discussions aimed at physiologists, doctors, nurses and patient groups will also take place during the course of the congress. Read More |
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Congratulations to Jayne Mudd & Win Bell |
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New Patient Information Leaflet |
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We have just published a new leaflet called "Physical Activity & Exercise Advice for Patients with an ICD". You can view and download a copy on our website (in pdf format) by clicking on the link below and further copies are available to order from heartrhythm@stars.org.uk. Physical Activity and exercise advice for patients with an ICD |
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Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2007 |
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We are receiving a great deal of interest and support - but we need more! Last year saw 165 events taking place around the UK and feedback showed the need for greater awareness still! Please support us during the week. Click here to find out how you can help |
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Arrhythmia in the News |
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Press Clippings |
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MTG Digest |
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World Heart Rhythm Awareness Day |
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During the awareness week, we are promoting 13th June as our ‘World Heart Rhythm Awareness Day.’ A number of organizations worldwide will join forces to highlight Heart Rhythm awareness promoting better understanding and speedy referral to specialists and improving quality of life for those living with Cardiac Arrhythmia. For more details click here |
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Heart Rhythm Congress 2007 |
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ICD Support Group - A-A Affiliation |
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Arrhythmia Alliance, in partnership with the Department of Health and leading healthcare professionals has suggested that local ICD groups become affiliated to the Alliance in order to ensure that best practice and national standards are reached with regards to the information and patient support that they provide. Arrhythmia Alliance is currently contacting local ICD support groups to offer affiliation through the following services: · Accredited information booklets, endorsed by the Department of Health · Helpline support and advice · Free hosting and design of group website · Group management guidance and support · Advertisement of group events Volunteer training In order to become officially affiliated and nationally recognised, groups must comply with the Aims & Objectives of the charity, use the accredited A-A information and work in partnership with patients, healthcare professionals and Arrhythmia Alliance. If you are a member of an ICD group and would be interested in becoming affiliated to ensure best practice and national standards are reached, please contact Trudie Lobban at trudie@stars.org.uk or telephone for details on 01789 450 787 |
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The British Journal of Cardiac Nursing Awards were held recently at the Cafe Royal in London. Jayne and Win raised the profile of Arrythmia nursing by winning a prestigious award. Jayne was nominated by Jenny Tagney and won the award in “Excellence or Innovation” in arrhythmia care. Win was nominated by Jayne for a lifetime achievement award highlighting her valuable contribution to arrhythmia service development. As we all know and recognise, Jayne and Win have made such an impact and are an example to all on what an important role nurses play in the care of arrhythmia patients. Well done Jayne - and good to learn the A-A logo and details beamed up on stage too! So sorry I could not be there to present you with your award - so well deserved. |
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Please write to your MP asking to support us! You will see that there is a letter for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Simply select the letter applicable to you, personalise and print for your use. However, please note that due to forthcoming elections in Wales and Scotland, you will need to write to your Westminster MP. Many thanks for your support - it really can make a difference. |
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Write to Your MP |
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Out of Retirement and Back on the Beat |
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You may be interested to read our latest case study from Sean, an AF patient (view case study) Please send us your case study if you think others would find it informative and helpful to read and we will publish it on our website and in our e-bulletin. Send to heartrhythm@stars.org.uk. Thank you. |
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Many Children with blackouts are told they have epilepsy, but for 13-year-old Becky the truth came too late |
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On Easter Monday 2004, 13-year-old Becky, along with her identical twin sister Sophie, their father and grandfather watched the Blackburn Rovers match on television. Blackburn beat Fulham 3-2 and Becky went to bed thrilled. Shockingly, by 7.30am the next morning she was dead. Three months earlier, Becky had started medication for epilepsy after she'd had a series of seizures. These began when she was ten years old. |
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British Cardiovascular Society Annual Scientific Meeting—Arrhythmia Alliance |
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Visit A-A at this years BCS meeting 4 - 6 June (Stand C8) in Glasgow. A-A latest news and publications will be available. |
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Come see us at Primary Care 2007 |
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From May 10th to 11th we will be exhibiting at Primary Care 2007. The event is free to attend and is being held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. We are on stand E102. As well as an exhibition stand, Fiona Ritchie, Learning Disabilities Lead at the Healthcare Commission, will be jointly hosting a session with Gerry Zarb, Head of Health and Independent Living Strategy at the Disability Rights Commission. The theme of the session is Improving services for people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. The event is in the PCT and SHA programme and is being held at 11.15am on Friday May 11th. |
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Education Project |
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STARS is to launch its advisory website on education, which will form part of the Shine a Light on Education project, in mid-May. The website will include: · Information & advice for teachers, staff and carers · Care plans for parents and teachers · Teaching resources on syncope · Advice section for parents A youth area - to include moderated message board and 'The Blackout Blog' This new resource will be the first port of call for information and advice on living with syncope and unexplained loss of consciousness in the educational environment; whether it be nursery, or university. Keep an eye out for the new link in the weeks ahead! Arrhythmia Alliance will be carrying out a similar project to educate on heart rhythm disorders. If you would like to register your interest in this venture, or have any ideas as to how to maximise its effectiveness, please contact Laura Nelson or Jo Jerrome |
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DoH releases Vascular Disease Briefing Pack for Health Authorities |
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On the 13th of April 2007, the DoH released Vascular Programme Briefing Packs for the ten new health authorities in England (formerly called Strategic Health Authorities or SHAs). The pack assesses progress, opportunities and challenges in key areas of vascular disease including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and renal disease. It is intended for use primarily by Health Authority boards and their constituent trusts and networks. The pack: · highlights the National Service Frameworks & other guidance available to support improved services and patient outcomes for vascular disease · sets out the comparative position of the new Health Authorities in preventing and treating these 4 disease groups and key areas for opportunity and improvement provides details of policy contacts & sources of information |
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· Stroke Awareness Day –Saturday 19th May 2007, Black Country, UK. Cornbow Centre, Halesowen, 10am-4pm. Saturday May 19 - Wulfrun Centre, Wolverhampton; Aldridge Methodist Church; Asda, Great Bridge, St John’s Methodist Church Bloxwich and outside Tesco in Walsall Town Centre, all 10am-4pm; Brownhills Methodist Church, 8.30am-1pm; and Boots Chemist, Willenhall, 9.30am-1.30pm. · Rhythm Congress: Arrhythmias and Heart Failure—15th-17th June 2007, Cannes, France. · 34th International Congress on Electrophysiology, and 48th Symposium on Vectorcardiography—27th—30th June 2007, Istanbul. · Anatomy for Electrophysiologists - 2nd-3rd July 2007, Royal Brompton & Harefield. This 2-day course aims to provide the foundation for understanding the anatomy of the heart and spatial relationships of cardiac structures as viewed by Cardiac Electrophysiologists. · British Society of Medical Managers January-May 2007, various parts of the UK · Europrevent 2007—Madrid, Spain. 19th-21st April 2007— EuroPrevent is an international platform bringing together cardiologists, scientists and other health workers with a specific interest in the fields of Basic Science, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Epidemiology & Public Health. · ESC Congress 2007—1st-5th September 2007. Now accepting Abstract submissions here · Venice Arrhythmia 2007— 7th-10th October 2007, Venice, Italy. · UKCRN course availability listing A complete list of UKCRN’s courses for 2007 can be found here. Diploma Level Module: Atrial Fibrillation. |
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If you have any links, suggestions for stories to cover in next month’s e-bulletin, or know of any forthcoming events, please email webmaster@arrhythmiaalliance.org.uk |
