Closer to home life-saving heart scan is good news for patients
The introduction of a new diagnostic service, which can detect a rare and potentially life-threatening heart condition, now means patients across mid and south Essex no longer have to travel to London.
Consultant Cardiologist Dr Ambreen Gul, working with the Nuclear Medicine team, has introduced a specialist imaging service at Southend Hospital that can identify cardiac amyloidosis, a condition caused by the build-up of abnormal proteins in the body.
Dr Gul said: “Cardiac amyloidosis affects multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys and nerves. Because its symptoms often resemble other illnesses, many patients go undiagnosed for years. Early detection is crucial, as effective treatments are now available - but only if we catch it in time.”
Since it began in July, the service has scanned more 20 patients, with four confirmed cases of cardiac amyloidosis being identified and referred for specialist treatment in London.
One of those is Dorothy Bull, 85 from Southend, who was diagnosed in September. She was offered the scan after experiencing a range of health issues, including shortness of breath and swelling of her ankles, which saw her being admitted to the emergency department.
Dorothy, who is about to start treatment, said: “I’ve been so well looked after from the very start. Dr Gul and the teams at Southend and the Royal Free have given me confidence and hope - It’s not an easy diagnosis, but the support I’ve had has been amazing.”
The scan involves a small injection of a radioactive tracer and a full body scan that takes around 45 minutes. Establishing the service required new licensing and governance approvals, which Dr Gul and the nuclear medicine team successfully achieved after several years of work.
Until now, patients had to travel to the National Amyloidosis Centre in London for this type of scan. By offering it locally, Southend becomes one of the few hospitals in the East of England to provide this service.
Frank Grew, Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist at the Trust, said: “Traveling to London can be a daunting prospect for people who are older or who have reduced heart function. Now they can have the entire procedure done in Southend Hospital. It’s a great example of how nuclear medicine can support clinicians to introduce new diagnostic and treatment options that make advanced care more accessible, convenient and safe for our patients.”
Dr Gul now hopes to eventually expand the service to Basildon and Broomfield hospitals.
She said: “My long-term vision is for Southend to become a regional hub for diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis and, in time, for us to offer treatment locally too. With greater awareness of this condition among clinicians and future investment in specialist equipment, we can ensure more patients are diagnosed earlier and receive the care they need closer to home.”