A cardiac physiology training programme developed here at Royal Papworth to boost skills, improve confidence and help improve staff retention has been extended to support staff across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS) and further afield.
The new year-long programme, created in partnership with Boston Scientific, will combine face-to-face and online syllabus learning to develop people’s knowledge of pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronisation devices (CRTs).
Along with physiologists from Royal Papworth, the programme has already recruited colleagues from North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS NHS Foundation and University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire with their cardiac physiology departments recognising the opportunities and benefits that this provides.
The structured syllabus aligns with the British Heart Rhythm Society (BHRS) exam syllabus and the hope is that this will help establish goals as well as retain staff, who will have the potential to become accredited in cardiac rhythm management in the future.
Delegates at the first session of the new year-long programme
Alaina Yardley, Lead Cardiac Physiologist, helped develop this programme. She said: “We are very proud of our in-house training programme, which was affiliated with Medtronic and Abbott. Feedback was extremely positive, with attendees expanding their knowledge and gaining their accreditation.
“In turn, our team has since gone on to support 8,500 pacemaker and ICD patients across East Anglia with the highest level of care and technical knowledge.
“It’s been great to see these individuals involved in the delivery of new innovative technology and ultimately fulfilling their potential.
“Our desire was always to share this knowledge and success with other physiologists and we are delighted to expand our programme on a more regional level, in partnership with Boston Scientific.
“We hope this will help nurture and grow physiologists across the East of England and beyond, helping them to feel even more valued for their skills, engaged in their work and ensuring the NHS retains its talented staff.”